DR.  BATE'S 

TRUE 

Marriage  Guidk, 

A  TREATISE  FOR  THE 

MARRIED  AND  MARRIAGEABLE, 

BOTH  MALE  AND  FEMALE, 

Containing  Information  and  Salutary  Hints  for  Evftryone, 

BY 

DR.  J.  w,  bate:, 

323-325  Dearborn  Street, 
CHICAGO. 


J 


1  lopyri^hS         hy  Fred  R  Bate. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2014 


https://archive.org/details/drbatestruemarri01bate 


INTRODUCTION. 


In  this  little  book  I  have  endeavored  to  giv<*  some 
of  the  leading  impediments  to  marriage,  their  na- 
ture and  effects.  Pains  have  been  taken  to  make  it 
plain  even  to  the  most  common  understanding,  and 
above  all  to  make  it  useful:  and  it  is  sincerely  hoped 
that  the  young  man  or  woman  who  peruses  this 
work,  will  rise  from  it  with  a  better  heart. 

I  have  made  the  diseases  of  the  sexual  organs  of 
both  sexes  and  such  complaints  as  arise  more  im- 
mediately from  a  disorganization  of  the  generative 
system,  whether  constitutional  or  acquired,  my  par- 
ticular study  for  the  past  twenty-seven  years.  My 
experience  in  the  treatment  of  cases  of  this  charac- 
ter, in  all  their  varied  forms  and  phases,  enables  me 
to  speak  confidently  and  truthfully  upon  the  sub- 
ject. When  persons  of  either  sex  are  about  enter- 
ing into  matrimony  they  ought  to  subject  themselves 
to  a  thorough  examination  to  see  if  they  are  in  a 
condition  to  exercise  the  marital  functions;  the  easy 
cares  of  married  life  are  sometimes  disturbed  by  the 
suspension  of  those  blessings  which  consummate 
the  nuptial  wreath,  arising  from  a  variety  of  causes 


"  INTRODUCTION. 


[treated  of  in  the  following  pages,]  which  renders 
the  generative  powers  weak  and  impotent,  yet  they 
can  be  strengthened  and  deficient  energy  improved 
into  functional  power;  and  the  suffering  community 
of  either  sex,  especially  those  entering  into  matri- 
monial life,  ought  to  read  this  book  carefully  and 
attentively,  and  avail  themselves  of  the  advice  there- 
in offered. 

It  is  quite  unnecessary  to  make  any  apology  for 
publishing  a  book  ot  this  nature.  The  importance 
of  the  subject  on  which  it  treats  is  recognized  by 
the  pulpit  and  by  the  press;  by  the  learned  and  the 
unlearned;  by  the  medical  profession  and  by  their 
patients.  I  do  not  hesitate  to  assert,  that  the  les- 
sons taught  by  this  little  book  will  prove  of  great 
value  to  all  who  study  them  in  a  proper  spirit.  The 
laws  of  the  Creator  are  absolute  and  unchanging;  it 
is  impossible  to  do  evil  or  to  violate  those  laws 
without  evil  effects  resulting.  If  you  would  be  hap- 
py, you  must  be  healthy;  and  if  you  would  enjoy 
health  you  must  study  the  unchanging  laws  that 
govern  it.  Many  of  the  fatal  diseases  to  which  man 
is  subject  arise  from  passions  unrestrained  and  vic- 
ious indulgences.  '  'The  solitary  vice  of  Self-Pollu- 
tion," says  Dr.  Woodward,  "spreads  desolation 
through  the  land.' 

When  we  see  the  miserable  victims  of  an  insidi- 
ous and  unsuspected  disease  slowly  but  steadily 
emaciating;  when  we  view  a  series  of  phenomena 
faintly  and  indistinctly  characteristic  of  a  great  var- 
iety of  disorders,  such  as  consumption,  wasting  away, 


PHYSIOLOGY  OF  MARRIAGE. 


Physiology  of  Marriage. 

The  sacred  ordinance  of  marriage  emanates  from 
the  Deity,  by  whom  we  are  enjoined  to  ''increase 
and  multiply," — hence  it  is  considered  honorable 
amongst  all  men,  and  should  not  be  entered  upon 
carelessly  or  wantonly,  nor  without  duly  considering 
the  causes  for  which  it  was  originally  ordained.  Mar- 
riage was  introduced  by  the  Divine  Creator,  in  the 
time  of  man's  primitive  innocence,  as  the  means  of 
his  happiness  and  the  perpetuation  of  his  race.  Its 
influence  extends  from  individuals  to  kingdoms,  and 
to  the  whole  world.  Jeremy  Taylor  calls  it:  "the 
mother  of  the  world,  which  preserves  cities,  and  fills 
cities,  churches  and  even  heaven  itself, "  It  is  the 
primitive  source  of  morals  and  society,  the  nurse  of 
virtue  and  patriotism,  the  stay  and  support  of  gov- 
ernments. In  a  word,  no  other  social  institution 
exercises  so  profound  an  influence  on  the  well-being 
of  societ)\  The  obligations  of  marriage  are  mutual 
and  imperative;  if  any  deception  is  practiced,  those 
culpable  will,  sooner  or  later,  receive  punishment  in 
the  disappointment  of  their  pleasures,  the  loss  of 
their  health  and  the  remorse  of  their  own  reflections. 
It  unfortunately  happens  in  the  present  artificial 
state  of  society  that  many  men  are  unable  to  marry 
before  middle  life,  perhaps  after  a  youth  spent  in 


10  PHYSIOLOGY  OF  MARRIAGE. 

more  or  less  dissipation, — perhaps  after  having  ac- 
quired the  seeds  of  disease  and  impotence.  Then  the 
question  arises:  Is  such  a  man  capable  of  procreating 
healthy  children,  or  of  satisfying  those  desires  im- 
planted by  nature  in  the  most  modest  and  vir- 
tuous of  women,  not  less  strongly  than  in  man  him- 
self? The  consciousness  of  deficiency  must  cause  any 
man  to  feel  abashed,  and  he  can  offer  no  excuse  but 
what  must  tend  to  lessen  the  love  and  respect  of  his 
wife.  Ignorance  of  a  density  unequalled,  of  an  ob- 
stinacy unparalleled,  long  prevailed  on  the  topics 
which  control  most  completely  the  fitness  of  men 
and  women  in  wedlock.  There  are  certain  stages  of 
injured  health  capable,  by  early  and  skillful  treat- 
ment, of  thorough  and  speedy  cure;  but  which,  if 
neglected  or  injudiciously  dealt  with,  render  aught 
but  disgust  and  misery  in  marriage  a  thing  humanly 
impossible.  No  man  is  so  likely  to  be  jealous  as  the 
one  who  is  conscious  that  his  wife  has  just  reason  for 
complaint;  and  no  woman  is  so  likely  to  go  astray  as 
one  who  is  tantalized  by  the  abortive  toying  of  an  im- 
potent husband.  We  admit  nothiug  can  justify  a  wife 
in  proving  false  to  the  marriage  vow,  and  nothing 
can  ever  after  restore  her  to  the  position  of  a  virtuous 
woman;  but  cases  frequently  occur  where  much 
might  be  urged  in  extenuation,  and  where  he  who  is 
considered  the  injured  husband  is,  in  reality,  more 
guilty  than  his  wife.  Women  were  formed  to  com- 
plete the  well-being  of  man,  and  those  who  abstain 
from  intercourse  with  them  are  rarely  either  happy 
or  healthy.  Marriage  constitutes  the  bond  of  ?ociety. 


PHYSIOLOGY  OF  MARRIAGE.  11 

ai?d  the  respect  paid  to  its  ordinances  afford  the  best 
test  of  the  moral  condition  of  a  civilized  people; 
but  where  generative  weakness  exists,  let  not  the  un- 
happy sufferer  augment  his  own  misery  by  the  sacri- 
fice of  one  from  whom  he  can  expect  nothing  but 
dislike,  reproaches  and  contempt,  and  whose  happi- 
ness may  be  marred.  It  may  be  safely  affirmed  that 
a  difference  of  temperament  between  married  persons 
is  conducive  not  only  to  mutual  affection,  but  to  fer- 
tility. Nature  appears  to  desire  marriages  between 
different  families  and  nations,  because  such  crossings 
of  the  various  races  improve  and  invigorate  the 
species.  Humboldt  and  others  have  observed  that 
the  offspring  of  Europeans  and  Ethiopians  are  pecu- 
liarly robust  and  active.  From  numerous  observations 
of  a  similar  nature,  he  argues  that  the  best  mode  of 
eradicating  hereditary  diseases,  gout,  scrofula,  con- 
sumption, epilepsy,  madness,  etc.,  in  their  early 
tendency,  is  by  the  commixture  of  the  species  in  inter 
marriage  which  prevents  the  transmission  of  disease 
to  the  next  generation.  The  mental  weakness,  as 
well  as  mean  appearance  of  some  of  the  European 
royal  families,  is  strongly  confirmatory  of  the  truth 
of  these  principles.  Walker,  in  his  admirable  and 
interesting  work  "On  Intermarriage,"  proves 
beyond  the  possibility  of  cavil,  that  insanity,  idiocy, 
and  numerous  physical  ailments  occur  four  times 
above  the  average  in  the  offspring  of  "family  mar- 
riages."  When  persisted  in  for  some  generations  the 
race  usually  becomes  extinct.    Nor  is  this  confined 


ffc  PHYSIOLOGY  OF  MARRIAGE. 

to  man  alone — the  rule  extends  from  man  downward 
through  the  whole  realm  of  animated  nature. 

That  the  happiness  of  married  life  may  in  a  great 
measure  be  secured  or  defeated  by  attention  to,  01 
neglect  of,  what  lies  in  our  power  previous  to  its  con- 
summation, is  as  true  as  that  there  are  duties  obliga- 
tory alike  upon  man  and  wife  after  marriage.  If  a 
man  has  made  a  hasty  or  thoughtless  selection,  the 
fault  is  assuredly  his  own.  Although  it  cannot  be 
doubted  that  warm  and  mutual  affection  is  an  essen- 
tial condition  to  married  felicity,  it  must  be  remem- 
bered that  passion  is  a  false  and  treacherous  guide, 
when  not  founded  on  well-merited  and  well-defined 
respect.  It  is  often  inquired:  what  is  the  proper  age 
to  enter  the  marriage  state?  and  the  question  is  one 
that  is  difficult  to  answer.  Much  depends  upon  indi- 
vidual health  and  temperament;  but  as  a  general 
rule,  we  find  the  happiest  unions,  and  also  the  most 
fruitful,  when  the  man  marries  from  the  age  of 
twenty-five  to  thirty-five,  and  the  woman  is  from  five 
to  seven  years  younger.  Di .  Samuel  Johnson  ob- 
serves: "Those  who  marry  at  an  advanced  age  will 
probably  escape  the  encroachment  of  their  children; 
but,  in  diminution  of  this  advantage,  they  are  likely 
to  leave  them,  ignorant  and  helpless,  to  a  guardian's 
mercy;  or,  if  that  should  not  happen,  they  must  at 
least  go  out  to  the  world,  before  they  see  those  they 
love  best  either  wise  or  great."  It  is  quite  certain, 
that  on  young  women  marriage  will  frequently  have 
a  most  beneficial  effect.  Hysteria,  Nervousness,  Ir 


PHYSIOLOGY  OF  MARRIAGE.  13 

regularity,  sometimes  even  Consumption,  are  known 
to  disappear  after  marriage.  In  reference  also  to  the 
male  sex,  it  is  quite  certain  that,  independently  of 
many  morbid  affections  and  habits  which  marriage 
removes,  it  augments  the  energy  of  the  system,  of 
the  blood  vessels;  the  distended  arteries,  pulsating 
with  greater  force,  transmit  warmth  and  animation 
throughout  the  body;  the  muscles  become  more  vig- 
orous, the  step  more  elastic,  the  voice  firmer,  every 
physical  attribute  of  humanity  becomes  boldly  de- 
veloped. Marriage,  however,  is  not  altogether  made 
up  of  "sighs  and  wreathed  smiles;"  though  it  has  its 
devotions,  it  has  also  its  obligations;  and  the  divine 
command,  "increase  and  multiply,"  can  only  be 
obeyed  by  those  in  full  possession  of  mental  and 
bodily  vigor.  Even  under  the  most  favorable  cir- 
cumstances of  youth  and  vigor,  it  is  necessary  to  warn 
the  newly  married  couple  of  the  danger  of  excessive 
indulgence  which  injures  the  health  of  woman,  and, 
by  causing  many  painful  diseases,  soon  renders  inter- 
course utterly  repugnant.  It  also  prevents  or  impairs 
the  offspring — for  whatever  enfeebles  or  diseases  the 
sexual  organs  must  of  necessity  have  that  effect. 
Temperance  in  the  connubial  embrace,  as  in  all 
other  things,  is  the  medium  which  wre  should  ob- 
serve and  recommend. 

We  earnestly  advise  all  who  contemplate  entering 
the  marriage  state  to  take  advice  from  a  thoroughly 
qualified  practitioner,  as  to  whether  there  is  anything 
to  be  set  right  before  the  marriage  is  consummated. 
Much  misery,  perchance  innocent  lives,  may  be 


14 


PHYSIOLOGY  OF  MARRIAGE. 


spared  by  attending  to  this  obvious  and  easy  duty. 
Sometimes  an  old  venereal  contamination  may  be  lin- 
gering in  the  blood.  Careful  examination  and  an- 
alysis will  decide;  and  treatment  for  two  or  three 
weeks  may  prevent  long  years  of  unhappiness. 

In  concluding  this  part  of  my  subject,  I  may  be 
allowed  to  observe  that  it  is  right  and  useful  that  all 
men  should  know  that  there  are  principles  of  person- 
al management  which  cannot  be  violated  without 
the  incurring  of  grievous  penalties;  it  is  right  that 
they  should  know  when  wisdom  and  regret  succeed 
the  heyday  of  inconsiderate  self-indulgence,  how 
these  penalties  may  be  mitigated  and  how  the  sting 
of  their  remorse  may  ultimately  be  removed.  The 
most  absurd  of  all  emotions  is  that  of  despair.  Let 
the  sufferer  remember  that  there  is  scarcely  any  de- 
gree of  weakness  or  functional  derangement  to  which 
the  timely  aid  s>f  science  cannot  apply  a  cure. 


'Eogarth's  Lines  of  Beauty, ' 
{Male  form.) 


No.  2.   Vertical  Section  of  Bladder,  Penis  and  Urethra, 


ORGANS  OP  GENERATION.  17 


Organs  of  Generation. 


In  order  that  the  reader  may  fully  understand  all* 
the  parts  of  this  work,  it  is  necessary  that  he  should 
be  made  acquainted  with  the  anatomy  of  the  organs 
or  parts  which  are  necessary  to  reproduction  and  gen- 
erally called  sexual  organs.  It  will  be  my  endeavor 
to  convey  this  knowledge  in  plain,  concise  and  un- 
technical  language.  After  a  short  consideration  of 
the  structure  of  the  parts,  I  shall,  in  the  same  brief 
manner,  proceed  to  consideration  of  the  physiology 
or  functions,  when  in  a  state  of  health;  that  is  to 
say,  the  use  of  each  part  engaged  in  the  generative 
act  will  be  explained.  • 

The  genital  organs  in  the  male  consist  of  the 
penis,  scrotum,  testicles,  urethra,  (or  canal  through 
which  the  urine,  etc.,  pass,)  the  vesiculae  seminales 
(or  seed  vessels)  and  the  prostate  gland. 

The  penis  or  organ  of  penetration  is  covered  for  the 
most  part  with  common-  skin,  but  the  nut  or  head, 
called  gla?is  penis,  in  the  adult  is  generally  bare,  the 
skin  only  either  covering  it  in  part  or  leaving  it  en- 
tirely free.  That  portion  of  skin  which  in  children 
covers  the  glans  or  head  is  called  the  prepuce,  and 
is  attached  to  it  behind  by  a  bridle  or  frenum.  Nearly 
in  the  centre  of  the  glans  is  the  opening  of  the  ure- 
thra, It  is  not  necessary  here  to  describe  minutely  the 


18  ORGANS  OF  GENERATION. 

structure  of  the  penis.  Suffice  is  to  say  that  a  por> 
tion  of  it.  consists  of  cells  almost  like  a  sponge, 
called  corpus  spongiosum  or  erectile  tissue,  and 
that  it  is  the  rush  of  blood  into  them  that  causes 
distention  or  erection  of  the  part. 

The  scrotum  or  bag  is  situated  at  the  root  of  the 
penis,  between  it  and  the  seat,  and  is  formed  of  folds 
of  loose  skin,  externally,  is  generally  of  a  dark  color 
in  part  covered  with  hair,  and  is  divided  into  portions, 
by  a  seam  running  up  its  centre.  This  bag  contains 
the  testicles,  one  on  each  side  of  the  seam. 

The  testicles,  which  are  contained  in  the  scrotum 
after  birth,  are  in  the  earlier  months  of  life,  when 
yet  within  the  womb,  situated  in  the  belly  near  the 
kidney,  but  some  short  time  before  the  child  is  born, 
descend  and  enter  the  scrotum.  This  does  not  how- 
ever, always  happen,  for  we  find  persons  in  boyhood 
and  even  in  manhood  who  apparently  have  but  one 
or  perhaps  no  testicles  to  be  felt  in  the  scrotum.  This 
does  not  argue  an  absence  of  these  organs,  but 
only  that  they  have  not  made  their  way  into  the  bag. 
A  person  so  situated  therefore,  has  as  much  virile 
I  power  as  one  whose  testicles  are  in  the  scrotum. 

The  testicles  are  of  an  oval  shape,  rather  flat  on 
each  side,  and  suspended  by  a  ligament  or  cord  on 
the  back  part,  called  the  spermatic  cord.  They  are 
covered  by  a  membrane  [within  the  scrotum]  and 
consist  of  a  soft  gray,  pulpy  substance  which  if  al- 
lowed to  float  in  water,  can  be  drawn  out  in  thin 
strips,  to  the  length  sometimes  of  two  or  three  feet. 
TWs  is  the  body  of  the  gland  which  secretes  the 


No.  J.    The  Bladder  and  Urethr*  la  id  open. 
Seen  from  above. 


OkGANS  OF  GENERATION.  21 

semen;  all  these  strings,  or  more  properly,  tubes,  at 
length  unite  and  form  a  duct  or  passage,  the  vas  def- 
erens for  the  semen,  which  they  convey  to  the  vesic* 
ulae  semznales,  or  seed  vessels. 

The  Urethra  is  the  canal  which  proceeds  from  the 
bladder  at  lower  part  of  the  penis  to  its  extremity. 
It  conveys  the  urine  from  the  bladder,  the  semen  and 
prostatic  fluid  are  also  ejected  through  it  its  length 
is  from  seven  and  a  half  to  ten  inches.  Into  it,  open 
the  vessels  which  convey  the  semen,  to  be  ejected 
from  it  in  the  act  of  copulation.  About  an  inch  or 
an  inch  and  a  half  from  the  mouth  or  opening  of  the 
urethra  on  its  lower  part,  is  a  small  cavity  which  is 
the  seat  of  the  well-known  and  troublesome  disease 
gonorrhea. 

The  vesiculae  seminales,  (seed  vessels;  are  two 
small  bags  at  the  base  of  the  bladder,  from  whence 
they  extend  to  the  base  of  the  prostate  gland;  their 
length  is  about  two  inches,  their  breadth  is  only 
three  or  four  lines,  they  contain  the  semen,  when 
secreted  by  the  testicles.  The  front  portion  of  each 
seminal  vesicle  ends  in  a  narrow  tube  which  unites 
with  the  vas  deferens,  the  tube  from  the  testicles 
thus  making  a  common  passage  or  duct,  called  the 
ejaculatory  duct  which  opens  into  the  urethra  and 
through  which  the  semen,  etc. ,  flows. 

The  prostate  gland  is  of  the  shape  of  a  chestnut 
and  surrounds  a  part  of  the  neck  of  the  bladder,  and 
it  is  only  mentioned  here  from  its  secreting  a  fluid 
which  mixes  with  the  semen  in  the  act  of  coition. 


22  ORGANS  OF  GENERATION. 

The  organs  of  generation  in  the  female  are  divided 
into  the  external  or  copulative,  and  the  internal  or 
formative. 

The  external  organ  consists  of  the  mons  veneris, 
the  vulva  pudenda,  or  labia  major  a,  or  large  lips,  the 
clitoris,  the  labia  minora,  or  lesser  lips;  the  hymen 
and  the  vagina.  The  internal  organs  are  the  uterus 
or  womb,  the  fallopian  tubes,  and  the  ovaria. 

The  mons  veneris  is  the  part  in  front  which  is  cov- 
ered with  hair  and  slightly  elevated  by  a  cushion  of 
fat  underneath  the  skin.  It  is  immediately  above 
the  proper  or  external  organs  of  generation,  and 
hence  has  been  called  mons  veneris  or  the  ven- 
ernal  or  venus  hill.  Immediately  below  it  are  the 
labia  majora,  or  the  larger  lips;  near  the  mons  they 
are  thick  and  fleshy,  but  gradually  become  thin  as 
they  descend.  They  are  united  above  the  mons  ve- 
neris, and  this  union  is  called  the  superior  or  upper 
commissure;  in  their  descent  they  are  slightly  sep- 
arated, but  again  unite  on  the  perineum  just  above 
the  seat.  This  union  is  called  the  fourchette  or  fork; 
externally  the  labia  are  covered  more  or  less  with 
hair;  internally  they  are  lined  by  a  delicate  mucous 
membrane,  like  that  of  the  inside  of  the  lips.  Be- 
neath the  upper  commissure  and  within  the  lips  is 
the  clitoris  or  female  penis.  This  body  resembles  a 
small  male  penis,  and  like  it  is  capable  of  erection, 
but  not  of  emission.  From  the  clitoris  descends  two 
folds  of  membrane,  called  the  labia  minora  nymphae 
or  lesser  lips,  they  are  not  unlike  in  appearance,  a 


No,  4.   Section  0/  Female  Pelvis ;  showing  position  of  Viscera. 


Hogarth's  "lanes *f£taut** 


ORGANS  OF  GENERATION.  2b 

cock's  comb,  but  are  of  a  paler  color.  They  join 
or  are  lost,  as  it  is  allied,  on  the  interior  of  the 
labia  majora.  The  inner  surface  of  these  labia  is  a 
continuation  of  the  vagina.  Between  these  lips 
and  at  the  upper  part  and  just  below  the  clitoris  is 
the  meatus  urinarius  or  entrance  to  the  urethra  ;  its 
situation  is  marked  by  a  depression  or  dimple,  but 
as  it  is  not  an  organ  of  generation  in  the  female,  no 
further  notice  of  it  is  requisite. 

The  hymen,  or  maiden-head,  is  a  thin,  crescent 
shaped  fold  of  the  lining  membrane  of  the  large 
labia,  and  is  placed  at  the  lower  part  of  the  vagina 
and  is  also  attached  to  its  sides.  There  is  at  the 
upper  part  a  portion  of  the  membrane  wanting,  or 
rather  a  space  left  for  the  purpose,  permitting  the 
menses  or  monthly  discharge  to  have  exit.  When 
the  hymen  has  been  ruptured  by  coition  or  destroyed 
by  other  means,  in  its  place  are  found  several  small 
round  bodies  which  are  called  carunculae  nytti- 
formes,  from  some  fancied  resemblance  they  bear  to 
myrtle  berries. 

The  vagina:  the  orifice  of  the  vagina  is  about  an 
inch  below  the  clitoris  and  within  the  large  lips.  In 
the  virgin  state  the  hymen  in  a  great  measure  closes 
it ;  the  vagina  is  surrounded  at  its  entrance  by  a 
muscle  which  gives  it  the  power  of  contraction  in  a 
circular  manner.  It  is  a  membrane  and  dilatable  tube 
much  wider  at  its  upper  part  than  at  the  lower;  it 
extends  from  the  vulva  or  lips  to  the  neck  of  the 
womb,  and  is  about  four  inches  in  length,  but  is  of 


26  ORGANS  OF  GENERATION. 

greater  length  on  the  lower  than  upper  part,  owing 
to  its  being  curved.  It  is  very  elastic  and  hence 
capable  of  great  dilation.  It  is  lined  by  mucous 
membrane  which  is  so  placed  as  to  form  a  large  num- 
ber of  folds,  these  folds  are  most  perceptible  in  the 
virgin  state  or  in  those  who  have  not  borne  children. 
In  women  who  have  had  many  children  they  are  in  a 
great  degree  obliterated.  The  lower  or  more  exter- 
nal part  of  the  vagina  is  surrounded  by  erectile  tis- 
sue, the  upper  part  is  nearly  free  from  it.  Within 
the  vagina  are  a  number  of  glands  for  the  purpose 
of  secreting  mucus  to  lubricate  the  lining  membrane. 

The  perineum,  which  is  the  space  between  the 
lower  juncture  of  the  larger  labia  and  the  funda- 
ment, is  sometimes  classed  with  the  organs  of  gen- 
eration, but  it  is  only  so  inasmuch  as  the  vagina 
runs  on  the  inside  of  it. 

INTERNAL  FEMALE  ORGANS  OF  GENERATION. 

The  uterus,  or  womb,  is  situated  at  the  upper  part 
of  the  vagina,  into  which  its  mouth  and  neck  pro- 
ject; the  vagina  surrounds  and  is  attached  to  the 
body  of  the  womb  ;  the  womb  lies  between  the  blad- 
der and  lower  bowel,  it  is  kept  in  its  place  by  four 
ligaments,  two  called  broad  and  two  called  round.  It 
is  divided  into  four  parts,  viz  :  the  fundus,  or  upper 
and  broad  part,  the  body,  the  neck  and  mouth.  The 
neck  as  already  observed,  projects  into  the  upper 
part  of  the  vagina.  The  body  tapers  gradually  from 
the  fundus  to  the  neck.    At  the  upper  part  of  the 


ORGANS  OF  GENERATION.  29 

body  where  it  joins  the  fundus  are  two  angles  into 
which  the  fallopian  tubes  are  inserted  (the  fundus 
is  the  broad  and  upper.)  The  size  of  the  unimpreg- 
nated  womb  is  about  three  inches  long  and  two 
broad  at  its  upper  part,  but  only  one  below ;  it  is 
composed  of  muscular  structure  which  admits  of 
much  distention  or  rapid  growth,  so  as  to  contain 
and  allow  the  growth  of  the  foetus ;  the  internal 
cavity  of  the  womb  is  also  triangular  and  divided 
into  equal  halves  by  two  raised  lines  which  run 
along  its  back  and  front.  At  its  upper  corners  or 
angles  there  are  two  small  holes  which  lead  to  the 
fallopian  tubes.  The  cavity  of  the  unimpregnated 
womb  is  about  three  inches  by  half  an  inch;  the 
weight  ot  a  virgin's  womb  is  not  above  an  ounce. 

The  fallopian  tubes  (so  called  from  the  discoverer 
Fallopius)  are  attached  to  the  angles  of  the  womb 
by  a  portion  which  is  nervous  and  cord-like;  the 
other  end  of  the  fallopian  tubes  is  broad  and  fringed 
and  attached  to  the  ovarium.  This  fringed  portion 
has  also  a  fissure  or  opening  into  which  the  ovum 
is  received  on  its  liberation  from  the  ovarium,  and 
hence  carried  along  the  tube  to  the  womb.  They 
have  from  the  circumstance  of  carrying  the  ovum 
been  considered  by  some  anatomists  as  the  excre- 
tory ducts  or  tubes  of  the  ovaria.  This  tube  is  of 
very  small  diameter  where  it  enters  the  womb,  so 
small  indeed  that  a  bristle  will  hardly  enter  it. 

The  ovaria  or  egg-receptacles  (sometimes  called  fe- 
male testes,  and  perhaps  not  inaptly),  the  seminal 


SO  ORGANS  OF  GENERATION, 

glands  of  women  are  two  small  oval  bodies;  they 
are  compressed  and  somewhat  irregular  in  their 
shape,  and  rough  on  the  surface,  and  are  enclosed 
in  the  folds  of  the  broad  ligaments  of  the  uterus. 
They  are  fixed  to  the  angles  of  th?  womb  by  their 
fibrous  cords  which  descend  from  the  lower  edge. 
The  ovarium  is  enclosed  in  a  thin  cover,  where  an 
ova  is  divided,  it  appears  a  firm,  but  a  vascular  sub- 
stance, in  which  are  a  number  of  sitUvU  vesicles,  the 
ovula  or  eggs  of  Graaf,  and  for  this  reason  called 
ovula  Graafiana. 

PHYSIOLOGY  OF  THE  ORGANS  OF  GENHVATION. 

At  the  age  of  puberty,  which  is  in  thkv  country 
about  from  fifteen  to  eighteen  years  of  a£e  in  the 
male,  and  from  thirteen  to  sixteen  in  the  female  — 
great  changes  take  place  in  the  appearance,  voice, 
etc. ,  as  well  as  in  the  organs  of  generation  them- 
selves ;  before  this  time  the  external  and  distinctive 
difference  between  the  two  sexes  are  not  well  marked, 
there  is  the  same  shrill  tone  of  voice,  the  same  del- 
icate, soft  and  smooth  skin,  and  the  same  lightness 
of  figure  in  each  sex  ;  but  no  sooner  does  the  age  of 
puberty  arrive,  and  the  organs  of  procreation  begin 
to  be  developed,  than  we  find  the  great  changes  taking 
place.  In  the  male,  the  voice  becomes  rougher,  beard 
and  whiskers  appear,  and  hair  appears  on  the  genitals, 
the  chest  and  shoulders  enlarge,  the  mind  and  body 
are  increased  in  vigor  and  endurance  of  fatigue,  and 
there  is  also  more  courage  and  resolution;  the  testi- 
cles now  secrete  semen,  and  there  is  a  desire  for  se^' 


No.  6,    The  Testis  in  Situ.    The  Tunica  Vaginalis 
having  been  laid  open. 


ORGANS  OF  GENERATION.  33 

ual  intercourse.  In  the  female,  the  changes  at  pu- 
berty are  of  equal  importance  ;  there  is  an  increased 
roundness  and  fullness  of  all  the  limbs,  the  bones  of 
the  pelvis  are  enlarged  to  form  the  hips,  the  breasts 
increase  in  size,  the  sexual  organs  are  more  perfect- 
ly developed,  there  is  hair  upon  the  pubis  and  mons 
veneris,  the  monthly  evacuation  is  established;  she 
is  conscious  now  of  being  a  woman,  and  becomes 
more  reserved  in  her  manners  to,  and  yet  more  de- 
sirous of  attracting  the  attention  of  the  other  sex. 

The  general  anatomy  of  the  organs  employed  in 
procreation  has  already  been  considered  ;  it  therefore 
only  remains  to  take  notice  of  the  use  or  physiology 
of  each  particular  part ;  and  for  this  purpose  I  will 
commence  with  the  testicles.  They,  it  will  be  re- 
membered, are  contained  within  the  scrotum ;  it  is 
their  office  to  secrete  from  the  extremities  or  termi- 
nate branches  of  the  arteries  with  which  they  are 
freely  supplied,  a  certain  fluid,  called  semen,  which 
is  the  vivific  agent  of  the  male.  This, when  secreted 
is  carried  to  the  vesiculae  seminales  by  a  duct  or  pas- 
sage called  the  vas  deferens;  in  these  it  is  supposed 
by  many  authors,  though  denied  by  John  Hunter, 
to  remain  until  it  is  required  for  the  purpose  of  im- 
pregnation, and  when  this  is  the  case  it  is  projected 
into  the  urethra  through  a  passage  called  the  ductus 
communis,  together  with  a  secretion  from  the  pros- 
tate gland,  and  with  it  and  other  glandular  secre- 
tions thrown  up  from  the  urethra  into  the  receiving 
prgan  of  the  female. 


S4  ORGANS  OF  GENERATION. 

The  prostate  gland  secretes  a  white,  o]1  aque  and 
viscid  fluid,  which  is  discharged  by  ten  ">r  twelve 
openings  into  the  urethra,  and  mingles  in  the  bulb 
of  the  urethra  with  the  semen,  and  with  it  is  ejected 
in  the  act  of  coition  ;  the  only  use  of  this  fluid  ap- 
pears to  be  that  of  diluting  the  semen,  and  hence 
causing  it  to  be  spread  over  a  larger  surface. 

The  urethra,  which  commences  at  the  bladder  and 
ends  at  the  glans  penis,  is  the  passage  through 
which  the  urine  flows,  and  which  receives  in  its 
bulb  the  semen,  etc. ,  and  hence  conveys  these 
mixed  secretions  into  the  vagina. 

The  penis  is  capable  of  consideftble  elongation 
and  rigidity,  from  the  rush  of  blood  into  its  cells 
when  desire  is  excited,  and,  from  this  cause,  is  well 
fitted  for  the  purpose  of  penetrating  to  such  a  dis- 
tance into  the  female  organs,  as  to  prevent  the  loss  of 
the  semen  and  facilitate  its  conveyance  to  the  ovum, 
which  it  is  destined  to  fecundate  ;  the  semen,  etc.,  is 
expelled  with  considerable  force  by  certain  muscles  of 
the  penis  called  ejaculators.  From  the  delicate  texture 
of  the  covering  of  the  glans,  and  its  being  well  sup- 
lied  with  nerves,  it  is  in  a  great  measure  the  seat  of 
pleasure  in  the  male  during  the  act  of  coition. 

The  semen  is  heavier  than  water,  is  of  a  peculiai 
smell,  like  that  of  a  bone  when  filed,  astringent  and 
alkaline  ;  it  has  in  it  a  great  number  of  animalculae, 
which,  however,  cannot  be  seen  without  the  aid  of  a 
powerful  microscope  ;  the  form  and  size  of  these  liv- 
ing beings  differ  in  different  animals.  According  to 


No.  7.    Vertical  Section  of  the  Testicle,  to  show  tht 
arrangement  of  the  Ducts. 


ORGANS  OF  GENERATION.  37 

some  medical  writers  these  minute  animalculae  are 
present  only  in  the  semen  of  persons  whose  genera- 
tive organs  are  unimpaired  by  self  abuse,  and  hence 
considered  by  them  the  criterion  of  judging  of  the 
capability  of  the  male  to  impregnate  the  ovum 
of  the  female.  Dr.  Wagner  observes:  ''The  semi- 
al  granules  are  colorless  bodies,  with  dark  outlines, 
round  and  somewhat  flattened  in  shape,  and  meas- 
uring from  one  three-hundredth  to  one  five-hun- 
dredth of  a  line  in  diameter,  and  in  length  scarcely 
surpassing  one-fiftieth  of  a  line . ' ' 

The  limits  and  design  of  this  work  will  not  per- 
mit the  author  to  dwell  longer  on  these  curious  an- 
imalculae, etc. ,  but  should  the  reader  '  wish  for  fur- 
ther information  on  this  interesting  subject,  he  may 
consult  the  works  of  Dr.  Wagner,  of  the  University 
of  Gottingen,  Prevost,  Rostock,  and  A.  Thompson 
(Cyclopedia  of  Anatomy,  &c,  Art.  Generation,  page 
460)  in  the  present  day,  and  also  the  elder  ones  of 
Lieuwenhok,  who  first  described  the.M,  and  Nailer 
Spallanzani. 

The  organs  of  procreation  in  the  female  are  more 
complicated  and  elaborate  than  c'lose  of  the  male, 
the  latter  having  only  to  cjiv  ey  the  semen  to  such 
a  situation  in  the  fem^e  \\  may  readily  fecun- 
date the  ovum;  this  arc  soon  accomplished;  but 
the  female  organs  ar :,ot  only  designed  to  receive 
semen,  for  they  h?  te  a  long  series  of  processes  to 
perform  which  requiie  a  great  length  of  titoe;  they 
receive  and  convey  the  seminal  fluid  to  the  ovaria. 


38  ORGANS  OF  GENERATION. 

the  impregnated  ovum  is  to  be  carried  into  the 
womb;  it  is  to  be  there  nourished  and  elaborated 
until  it  becomes  a  perfect  child,  and  finally,  the  fe- 
male organs  bring  it  forth  at  the  period  appointed 
by  nature,  a  living,  sentient  being.  These  processes 
require,  as  already  observed,  a  considerable  period 
of  time,  and  work  many  wonderful  changes  in  the 
female;  we  cannot,  therefore,  be  surprised,  that 
organs  destined  for  such  important  functions,  should 
be  in  some  measures  complex. 

When  considering  the  Physiology  of  the  man,  I 
commenced  with  the  testes.  I  will  therefore,  in  my 
description  of  those  of  the  female,  commence  with  the 
organs,  which  are  by  many  considered  analagous  to 
them,  vis:  the  Ovaria  or  Egg  Vessels. 

The  Ovaria  are  two  in  number,  one  on  each  side; 
they  contain  in  each  from  fifteen  to  twenty  Graafian 
vesicles,  (so  called  from  the  first  describer,  Graaf, ) 
or  eggs;  these  vesicles,  which  are  furnished  with  an 
outward  covering  called  the  Ovists t  are  filled  with  a 
yellow  viscid  matter,  something  like  "white  of  egg." 
These  vesicles  are  the  germ  of  the  future  embryo; 
the  use,  then,  of  the  ovarium,  is  to  contain  the  seed 
of  the  future  being.  They  are  connected  to  the  womb 
by  the  fallopian  tubes ,  whose  mouths  have  the  power 
when  under  the  influence  of  venereal  excitement,  at 
particular  times,  of  attaching  themselves  to  the  ova- 
rium, and  grasping  it  firmly;  they  receive  from  the 
ovarium  the  little  vesicle  or  egg,  and  convey  it  to 
the  womb  by  a  worm-like  motion. 


fo.  8.   Base  of  the  Bladder  with  the  Vas  Deferens 
ana  Vesiculae  Seminales. 


ORGANS  OF  GENERATION  41 

The  Uterus,  or  Womb,  wh?ch  1ias  been  likened  to 
the  nest  of  a  bird,  is  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  the 
embryo,  and  nourishing  it  until  i*  becomes  a  perfect 
foetus  or  child;  this  it  does  by  the  means  of  its  blood 
vessels,  which,  however,  do  not  ^o  directly  to  the 
child,  but  pass  through,  or  rather  form  a  substance, 
called  placenta,  and  from  it  the  bfood  required  to 
form  the  child  is  conveyed  to  ar  d  from  it,  by  a 
series  of  vessels,  called  the  umbilical  cord, which  en- 
ters the  child's  body  at  the  navel.  The  womb,  too, 
besides  the  mere  nourishing  the  *hild,  is  endowed 
with  the  power,  at  the  proper  perici,  of  expelling  it 
by  means  of  its  muscular  contraction,  into  the  vagi- 
na, and  hence  to  the  world.  Trr*  womb  also  se- 
cretes the  peculiar  fluid  called  the  menses  or  cata- 
menia,  which  is  discharged  generally  about  every 
lunar  month,  but  in  some  lemales  more  frequently, 
in  some  less  frequently.  This  fluid,  which  is  like 
blood  in  appearance,  does  not  like  blood,  coagulate, 
and  is  to  all  intents  a  secretion  from  the  lining 
membrane  of  the  womb;  it  is  from  six  to  eight  oun- 
ces in  quantity  and  the  discharge  lasts  three,  four 
and  six  days;  and  is  evacuated  drop  by  drop.  Most 
Physiologists  suppose  this  fluid  to  be  for  the  pur- 
pose of  preparing  the  womb,  and  other  parts,  for 
conception;  others  suppose  it  to  be  for  the  purpose 
of  allaying  sexual  desire;  the  former  supposition  is 
most  likely  correct,  for  we  find  the  menses  >ease 
when  imnregnation  takes  place,  rwri  Wr-  ASemethy 


42  ORGANS  OF  GENERATION. 

asserts  the  latter  is  equally  true;  this  discharge  is 
also  absent  when  the  process  of  suckling  is  going  on. 

The  Vagina  is  the  canal  leading  from  the  outer 
or  external  parts  to  the  mouth  of  the  womb,  it  is 
for  the  purpose  of  receiving  the  male  organ;  its  ex- 
ternal opening  is  surrounded  by  erectile  tissues, 
which  is  supposed  to  add  to  the  pleasure  of  the  fe- 
male in  sexual  intercourse;  through  this  canal  pas- 
ses the  infant  in  its  transit  from  the  womb  to  the 
world,  and  it  also  conveys  the  menstrual  secretion. 

The  Clitoris,  capable  of  erection  like  the  male  pe- 
nis, is  the  organ  of  pleasure  in  woman  during  the 
act  of  coition. 

The  Labia  minotce  or  Nymphce,  which  proceed 
from  the  above,  most  likely  add  to  the  woman's 
pleasure,  and  they  also  help  to  give  a  proper  direc- 
tion to  the  stream  of  urine,  as  it  flows  from  the 
urethra  of  the  female. 

The  Hymen. — To  this  membrane  no  particular 
use  is  given,  though  by  many  persons  it  is  consid- 
ered the  padlock  or  safeguard  of  virginity;  that  such 
is  not  always  the  fact,  the  author  will  prove  in  the 
course  of  discussion. 

The  External  or  larger  lips,  do  not  play  any  par- 
ticular part;  they  very  likely  add  to  the  pleasure  of 
both  male  and  female,  and  by  their  softness,  thick- 
ness, and  being  covered  with  hair,  prevent  injury  to 
the  more  tender  parts  below. 

Theories  of  Generation. — So  many  have  been  the 
theories  of  generation,  that  at  the  end  of  the  seven- 
teenth century,   Drelincourt  had  collected  from 


ORGANS  OF  GENERATION. 


it 


t>Ts  rious  authors,  no  less  a  number  than  two  hundred 
and  sixty -two,  which  he  pronounced  "groundless 
hypotheses,"  and  Blumenbach,  the  celebrated  Ger- 
man physiologist,  when  commenting  on  Drelincourt, 
says:  "there  is  nothing  more  certain  than  that  his 
own  theory  formed  the  two  hundred  and  §\yity -third." 
It  would  not  be  possible  to  examine  all  these;  we  must 
content  ourselves  with  a  few  of  the  more  prominent. 
Haller  has  divided  these  theories  into  classes,  viz : 
the  Spermatists,  who  suppose  the  offspring  to  pro- 
ceed entirely  from  the  male;  the  Ovists,  who  suppose 
it  to  proceed  from  the  female,  and  the  Syngenesists, 
who  consider  it  to  be  the  product  of  both  male  and 
female.  Again,  one  class  of  Ovists  suppose  the  germ 
of  the  perfect  animal  to  exist  in  the  ovum,  but  in- 
visible until  it  is  expanded,  unfolded  or  evolved;  this 
is  the  theory  of  evolution.  Another  class  suppose 
it  to  be  merely  formed  from  dimorphous  or  shape- 
less materials  at  the  moment  it  makes  its  appearance 
in  the  ovum  or  egg;  this  is  the  theory  oiEpigenesis. 

The  most  modern  doctrine  is  that  of  Epigenesis, 
promulgated  by  Casper  Wolfe,  in  1759.  Harvey  and 
Malpighi  ascribe  the  foetus  principally  to  the  female, 
and  Wolff  described  a  successive  production  of  organs, 
of  the  formation  of  which,  previously,  there  was  no 
trace,  and  showed,  also,  that  after  parts  are  formed, 
they  experience  many  most  important  changes  in 
shape  and  structure,  before  they  arrive  at  perfection; 
this  theory  of  superformation  of  parts  is  considered 
to  be  much  more  probable  than  that  of  evolution  of 
pre-existing  germs,  and  is,  in  a  great  measure,  borne 


44  ORGANS  OF  GENERATION. 

out  by  the  microscopic  observations  of  Meckel,  Baer, 
Rathke,  Serres,  Roland,  Dutroche,  Prevost,  Dumas, 
and  a  host  of  other  observers  of  the  present  day;  but 
of  this,  as  of  the  former  theory,  evolution,  I  may 
ask  if  it  is  true,  what  becomes  of  the  mules?  It  is 
known  that  the  lion  and  tiger  may  prove  prolific 
with  each  other,  as  do  the  horse  and  the  ass,  and 
the  hybrid  shows  the  marks  and  nature  of  both  par- 
ents;  it  is  not,  therefore,  possible  in  all  cases,  that 
the  rudiments  are  entirely  supplied  by  the  female. 

Of  the  manner  of  impregnation: — Much  difference 
of  opinion  is  expressed  as  to  when  and  where  the 
ovulum  is  impregnated;  nine  times  out  of  ten  the 
semen,  there  is  little  doubt,  is  received  by  the  womb; 
and  hence  carried  by  the  Fallopian  tubes  to  the  ovar- 
ium itself.  Ruysch  says  he  ''examined  the  body  of  a 
woman  struck  dead  by  a  dagger  in  the  act  of  adult- 
ery, and  tound  the  semen  in  the  Fallopian  tubes," 
and,  when  there,  it  comes  in  contact  with  the  ovulum, 
which  is  in  proper  state  for  fecundation;  the  vesicle 
or  ovulum,  then  bursts;  and  the  ovum,  which  it  now  is 
called,  is  carried  into  the  womb,  as  already  described, 
leaving  a  mark  behind,  (which  is  called  a  corpus  lut- 
euni)  and  becomes  the  embryo.  Such  is  the  ordinary 
manner  in  which  conception  is  achieved,  but  there 
are  many  exceptions  to  the  rule;  it  may,  and  has 
happened,  that  conception  has  taken  place  when  it 
was  impossible  for  the  male  organ  to  penetrate  the  va- 
gina of  the  female.  It  seems,  therefore,  likely  that  the 
lining  membrane  of  the  vagina,  or  even  of  the  labia, 
may  in  some  cases,  be  capable  of  absorbing  a  portion 


ORGANS  OF  GENERATION.  45 
of  semen,  sufficient  to  cause  impregnation,  or  that 
even  the  aura  of  it  may  be  sufficient  to  do  so. 

In  the  generality  of  women  who  have  had  connec- 
tion, the  hymen  is  broken;  the  large  labia  more  or 
less  separated  and  flaccid,  the  color  of  the  lining 
membrane  is  paler  than  in  the  virgin  state;  the  ent- 
rance of  the  vagina  more  parted,  and  its  rugae  (folds) 
in  a  measure  destroyed,  and  the  bridle  or  fourchette, 
especially  if  they  have  borne  children,  is  wanting. 
Though  the  former  is  the  general  appearance  in  the 
virgin,  and  the  latter  in  those  who  have  had  sexual 
intercourse,  yet  it  does  not  follow,  from  the  absence 
of  the  hymen,  or  flaccidity  of  the  labia,  etc.,  that  a 
woman  is  unchaste;  accident  or  disease  may,  and 
often  does,  destroy  the  hymen,  and  some  have  it 
absorbed  in  infancy;  flaccidity  of  the  lips,  and  non- 
rigidity  of  the  vagina  are  not  unfrequently  produced 
by  disease. 

A  woman  may,  on  the  other  hand,  have  the  hymen 
perfect,  or  a  very  small  and  contracted  vagina,  and 
yet  have  had  frequent  sexual  intercourse.  A  case  is 
related  by  Parent  du  Chatelet,  (see  his  work  on  Pros- 
titution in  Paris,)  of  two  young  women  summoning 
a  person  before  the  magistrates  for  calling  them  pros- 
titutes, and  demanding  a  medical  examination  to 
disprove  the  point;  the  medical  men  gave  it  in  their 
favor,  and  }^et  on  further  inquiry,  they  were  found 
to  have  been  on  the  town  for  a  considerable  period.  A 
Professor  of  Anatomy  relates  an  instance  of  the  body 
of  a  woman,  upwards  of  fifty  years  of  age,  being 
brought  into  the  dissecting  room  of  the  London  Uni- 


46  EFFECTS  OF  MARRIAGE. 

versity,  in  which  the  hymen  was  perfect,  yet  this, 
woman  had  been  on  the  town  since  the  age  of  fifteen. 

If  any  of  my  readers  marry  and  do  not  find  the 
hymen,  let  them  not  be  uneasy,  if  their  wife  is  of 
good  moral  feelings  and  of  honest  parentage;  its  ab- 
sence is  no  sign  of  lost  chastity. 

THE  EFFECTS  OF  MARRIAGE  UPON  HEALTH  AND  DISEASE. 

Marriage  being  the  natural  state  of  adult  age, 
there  can  be  no  question  that  it  is  in  many  cases  the 
means  of  preserving  health  and  prolonging  life. 
Hufeland,  the  celebrated  German  says:  "There  is 
not  one  instance  of  a  bachelor  having  attained  to 
great  age.  This  observation  seems  as  applicable  to 
the  female  as  the  male  sex;  and  hence  it  would  ap- 
pear that  a  certain  exercise  of  the  power  of  genera- 
tion is  favorable  to  longevity;  it  forms  an  addition  to 
the  vital  power,  and  this  power  of  procreati?ig  others 
seems  to  be  in  the  most  intimate  proportion  to  that  oj 
regeneration  and  restoring  o?ie's  self." — but  a  certain 
regularity  and  moderation  are  requisite  in  the  em- 
ployment of  it;  and  marriage  is  the  only  means  by 
which  these  can  be  preserved.  "Marriage,  "he  goes  on 
to  say  in  another  chapter,  '  'moderates  and  regulates 
enjoyment."  That' sameness  which  deters  the  liber- 
tine from  marriage,  is  highly  healthful  and  necessary, 
for  it  prevents  that  irritation  occasioned  by  continual 
change  of  objects, and  which  is,  therefore,  more 
weakening.  It  is  like  plain  simple  food,  compared 
with  that  which  is  compounded  and  luxurious;  the 
former  not  only  promotes  moderation,  but  also  long- 


EFFECTS  OF  MARRIAGE.  47 

evity . ' '  Daily  observation  shows  us  more  old  peo- 
ple, in  proportion,  of  course,  who  have  been  married 
than  those  who  have  remained  single.  Marriage  also 
has,  if  we  may  believe  a  late  writer,  much  power  in 
preventing  the  worst  of  crimes,  self-murder.  Forbes 
Winslow,  in  his  Anatomy  of  Suicide,  says:  "it  has 
been  satisfactorily  ascertained  that  two-thirds  of 
those  who  destroy  themselves  are  unmarried' '  —does 
not  this  prove  that  marriage  tends  greatly  to  the 
prevention  of  mental  disease,  for  I  am  charitable 
enough  to  suppose  that  no  man  would  dare,  uncalled 
for,  to  rush  into  the  presence  of  his  Maker,  were  it 
not  in  a  state,  however  temporary,  of  insanity  ? 
Marriage  then  has  considerable  effect  in  preserving 
mind  and  body  in  a  state  of  health;  it  remains  now 
to  show  its  effect  upon  disease. 

The  effects  of  marriage,  or  to  consider  it  merely 
in  the  light  of  sexual  connection,  on  disease  are 
more  clearly  shown  in  reference  to  the  gentle  sex, 
than  to  man — for  man,  to  his  shame  be  it  said,  is 
generally  more  or  less  a  libertine;  but  womaa,  whom 
the  customs  and  well  being  of  society  trammel  in 
this  particular,  suffers  much  from  what  may  be 
called  the  want  of  fulfilling  her  destiny  on  earth, 
viz:  the  bearing  and  nourishing  of  children.  I  shall 
not  enter  into  a  particular  detail  of  the  disease  in 
which  matrimony  is  of  service,  but  content  myself 
with  a  general  consideration  of  the  subject.  The 
peculiar  derangement  of  the  general  health,  in 
which  there  is  much  languor,  loss  of  appetite,  wast- 
ing of  the  body,  greenish  color  of  tke  skin*  and 


$8  EFFECTS  OF  MARRIAGE. 

many  other  appearances  which  lead  bystanders  to 
fear  consumption,  is  often  cured  by  marriage,,  as  are 
most  of  the  forms  of  nervous  and  hysteric  diseases  ;  j 
how  often  do  we  see  the  pale,  fragile,  sickly  girl, 
who  appears  to  have  no  life  in  her,  shoot  into  the 
fine  healthy  woman  soon  after  marriage  ?  Again,  do 
we  not  often  see  the  beautiful  young  woman,  after 
she  passes  a  certain  age,  gradually  sink  in  form, 
shape  and  feature,  the  breasts  becoming  flat,  the 
limbs  less  rounded,  and  the  features  sharp  and  prom- 
inent, losing,  as  it  were,  the  characteristics  of  her 
sex,  and  becoming  before  the  proper  time  an  old 
woman,  or  in  other  words  an  old  maid,  and  why  is 
this  ?  Because  that  part  of  her  system  which  should 
have  been  employed  upon  the  formation  of  new  be- 
ings has  been  idle,  or  rather  been  allowed  to  pre}) 
upon  her  very  vitals.  Marriage,  pregnancy  and  the 
nursing  of  children  are  the  proper  offices  of  woman, 
and  when  these  functions  are  not  performed,  disease, 
premature  old  age,  acidity  of  temper  and  compara- 
tively a  short  life  may  be  looked  for  ;  there  are  many 
exceptions,  it  is  true,  but  exceptions  only  prove  a 
general  rule.  To  man,  also,  the  exercise  of  the 
generative  functions  is  as  important  as  to  woman, 
and  marriage  is  the  proper  sphere  for  such  exercise; 
any  other  leads  to  its  abuse,  which  is  fraught  with 
evils  greater  than  absolute  continence,  which  will 
be  described  in  another  part  of  this  work. 

CAUSES  WHICH  INFLUENCE  FECUNDITY  AND  INFECUNDITY. 

In  this  paragraph  I  shall  glance  at  the  general 
causes  of  fecundity  and  its  reverse;  they  are  aliment, 


CAUSES  OF  FECUNDITY  AND  INFECUNDITY.  49 

occupation  and  climate.  The  want  cf  sufficient  food, 
there  is  no  question,  is  often  a  cause  of  infecundity; 
so  much  so  that  famine  has  been  known  to  decrease 
the  number  of  births  by  nearly  one-half;  M.  Villerme 
states  that  in  the  year  1817,  one  of  great  scarcity  in 
the  east  of  France,  the  births  diminished  one-half  the 
ordinary  number;  on  the  other  hand,  too  much  food, 
or  of  too  stimulating  a  description,  is  not  favorable 
to  fecundity,  as  may  be  verified  by  observing  the 
smaller  number  of  children  the  wealthy  have  than 
the  poor.  Sedentary  occupations,  by  producing  de- 
rangement of  the  general  health,  are  likely  to  de- 
crease fecundity.  Climate  and  season  seem  to  exert 
considerable  power.  I  find  the  greater  bulk  of  pro- 
geny to  be  in  cold  or  temperate  climates.  The  in- 
habitants of  Russia,  Iceland,  &c,  are  prolific, while 
the  inhabitants  of  Spain,  Peru,  Turkey,  &c,  have 
but  few  children.  Some  warm  climates,  however,  ap- 
pear to  be  favorable  to  fecundity,  as  Africa  and 
Hgypt ;  many  women  who  went  to  the  latter  place 
with  the  French  army  bore  children  there,  though 
they  were  sterile  in  France.  The  fecundity  of  the 
women  of  Egypt  has  been  attributed  to  the  use  of  the 
waters  of  the  Nile,  and  so  far  has  this  been  believed, 
that  the  bottled  water  of  that  river  has  been  brought 
into  Europe,  and  eagerly  bought  by  the  childless,  in 
hope  that  it  would  have  the  effect  of  removing  their 
sterility;  the  equality  of  the  temperature  of  Egypt, 
however,  solves  the  problem  of  the  superior  fecund- 
ity of  the  women,  without  attributing  supernatural 
powers  to  the  waters  of  the  Nile.  The  same  things 


50  CAUSES  OF  FECUNDITY  AND  INFECUNDITY 

which  cause  marsh  miasm,  viz:  heat,  moisture  and 
decaying  vegetable  matter,  is  a  considerable  enemy 
co  fecundity.  Season,  it  appears,  exerts  some  influ- 
ence; M.  Villerme  says  that  the  six  months  of  the 
year  in  which  there  are  most  births,  occur  in  the  fol- 
lowing order  :  February,  March,  January,  April,  No- 
vember and  September  ;  these  refer  the  conceptions 
to  May,  June,  April,  July,  February  and  March. 
Blundell  also  says,  '  'though  it  may  be  denied  that 
the  human  female  has  periodical  aptitude  (for  im- 
pregnation), I  think  there  is  something  genial  in  the 
spring  season,  and  we  all  know  that  of  vernal  months, 
May,  perhaps,  is  the  one  which  may  put  in  the  fair- 
est claim  to  be  the  emblem  of  the  blooming  virgin." 

Food,  occupation  and  climate,  though  they  have 
an  effect  on  the  number  of  children,  or,  in  other 
words,  on  the  fecundity  of  women,  do  not  render 
them  sterile,  or  the  male  impotent,  nor  do  they  act 
so  strongly  as  do  the  particular  causes  to  be  pointed 
out  in  the  next  chapter. 

Good  and  sufficient  food,  active  occupation,  with- 
out over- fatigue,  a  temperate  or  cool  climate,  are  fa- 
vorable to  the  natural  increase  of  population.  Fam- 
ine, sedentary  habits,  hot  or  very  variable  climate, 
are  unfavorable  to  the  increase  of  mankind,  and  not 
so  much  from  any  increase  in  the  number  of  deaths, 
but  in  the  want  of  an  adequate  number  of  births.  It 
has  been  stated  that  the  habit  of  using  intoxicating 
liquors  ro  excess  is  a  cause  of  failure  in  the  genera- 
tive func  tions  as  well  as  being  a  likely  means  ofpro- 
cjucnig  offspring  of  a  lower  order  of  intellect  and  oi 


CAUSES  OF  FECUNDITY  AND  INFBCUNDITY.  51 

but  slight  physical  strength.  Combe  relates  a  case, 
taken  from  the  Phrenological  Journal,  of  a  woman 
who  was  intoxicated,  being  impregnated  by  a 
drunken  man;  the  result  of  this  connection  was  an 
idiot;  and  he  attributes  the  want  of  intellect  in  the 
children,  in  many  cases,  to  the  intoxication  of  the' 
parents.  Burton,  in  his  Anatomy  of  Melancholy, 
remarks  :  "If  a  drunken  man  gets  a  child,  it  will 
never  likely  have  a  good  brain."  I  think  I  have 
myself  known  one  or  two  instances  where  an  addic- 
tion to  the  use  of  spirituous  liquors  to  excess  on  the 
part  of  the  woman  has  prevented  the  conception 
of  children.  I  say  I  think  this  was  the  reason  oi 
their  sterility,  because  previous  to  their  intemperate 
habits  they  were  fecund,  and  afterwards  unfruitful. 

PUBERTY  AND  ITS  DISEASES. 

There  are  a  number  of  causes  which  influence  the 
chances  of  fecundity,  or  otherwise,  which  are  pres- 
ent before  marriage,  and  which  should  be  taken  into 
consideration  before  either  sex  should  enter  into  that 
estate.  Though  not  the  most  important,  I  will  first 
lake  into  consideration  the  proper  age  for  marriage, 
with  the  evils  which  arise  from  too  early  marriages, 
and  also  too  late  ones.  The  proper  age  for  marriage 
varies  in  different  countries  ;  as  in  warm  climates, 
adult  age  is  soon  arrived  at,  and  consequently,  decay 
is  socner  expected  than  in  cold  ones.  In  our  own 
country,  according  to  the  law,  the  proper  age  for 
marriage  is  twenty-one  in  the  male  and  about  eight- 
een in  the  temale  ;  but  it  is  generally  believed  by 


52  CAUSES  OF  FECXXDITY  AND  INFECUNDITY. 

medical  men  to  be  too  young,  if  the  persons  about 
to  marry  are  desirous  of  having  healthy  children, 
and  of  preserving  themselves  in  good  health  to  old 
age,  and  this  because  at  those  ages  they  have  not 
arrived  at  their  full  growth  and  vigor;  therefore,  the 
procreation  of  children  on  the  part  of  the  male,  and 
the  bearing  of  them  on  the  part  of  the  female,  is 
Very  likely  to  stop  the  further  development  of  their 
powers,  and  to  undermine  their  constitutions  in  such 
manner  that  old  age  cannot  be  looked  for  except  pre- 
maturely. There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  best  age 
for  marriage  in  man  is  from  twenty-five  to  thirty, 
and  in  woman  from  twenty-one  to  twenty-five.  Each 
sex  at  these  ages  are  in  full  possession  of  all  their 
faculties,  bodily  and  mental,  and  are  in  the  best  sit- 
uations for  having  healthy  children  without  injury 
to  themselves.  Thousands  of  both  sexes  have  been 
brought  prematurely  to  the  grave  from  permitting 
themselves  to  become  boy -fathers  and  girl-mothers. 
But  be  it  recollected  that  when  marriage  at  an  early 
age  is  spoken  of  as  injurious  to  the  constitution, 
promiscuous  or  illicit  intercourse  is  very  much  worse. 
When  I  speak  of  a  man  not  marrying  until  twenty- 
five,  I  mean  that  until  that  time  he  should  really 
live  in  a  state  of  celibacy.  Very  late  marriages  are, 
perhaps,  more  conducive  to  health  than  premature 
ones,  for  old  men  procreate  much  more  healthy 
children  than  very  young  ones ;  but  it  is  also  at- 
tended with  disadvantages  ;  it  is  not  likely,  if  the 
parent  is  far  advanced  in  years,  that  he  will  see  his 
offspring  grow  to  maturity.    It  has  sometimes  hap- 


Causes  of  fecundity  and  ineecundity.  58 

pened  that  the  excitement  and  disturbance  to  the 
nervous  system  on  the  wedding  night  has  been  so 
great  in  the  male  that  death  has  taken  place  in  the 
act  of  copulation. 

Females  should  not  marry  late  in  life,  without 
they  are  past  the  age  of  child-bearing  ;  for,  from  dis- 
use, the  parts  concerned  in  parturition  have  become 
rigid  and  unfit  for  the  transit  of  the  foetus,  and  it 
has  happened  that  women  who  have  married  at  for- 
ty have  either  lost  their  lives  or  suffered  most  dread- 
fully in  giving  birth  to  their  infant,  which  in  most 
cases  is  still-born.  Women  generally  do  not  have 
children  after  the  age  of  forty-five,  but  many  con- 
tinue to  bear  children  long  after  that  period,  and  it 
is  nearly  as  difficult  to  fix  a  time  when  a  woman 
could  not  possibly  have  a  child  as  to  say  when  a 
man  could  not  get  one. 

The  proper  subjects  for  marriage  are  those  who 
have  arrived  at  full  adult  age,  are  of  sound  consti- 
tution, not  affected  with  hereditary  disease,  as  scrof- 
ula, madness,  consumption,  gout,  &c. ,  who  have  led 
a  temperate  life,  have  not  been  guilty  of  a  certain 
degrading  and  secret  vice,  too  prevalent  it  is  to  be 
feared  in  the  present  day,  aud,  above  all,  who  are 
not  tainted  by  the  venereal  poison,  and  who  in 
other  respects  enjoy  sound  health.  It  would  be  well 
for  future  generations  if  none  were  permitted  to 
marry  but  those  of  good  constitutions,  not  only  in 
themselves,  but  by  descent ;  thus  a  healthy,  vigorous 
generation  would  be  secured,  and  disease  almost 
banished  from  the  world  in  the  course  of  a  few  years 


b4  CAUSES  Or  I  uc;  'Mm  1  \  AM)  IN  FECUNDITY. 

In  choosing  a  partner  for  life,  some  attention 
should  be  paid  to  the  size  of  the  partners  as  regards 
stature,  bulk,  &e.,  as  well  as  other  things.  It  is 
evident,  if  a  very  tall  and  stout  man  should  marry  a 
small  and  delicate  woman,  the  chance  is  the  children 
are  also  large;  so  much  so,  it  may  be,  that  she  can- 
not be  delivered  without  the  aid  of  instruments,  and 
perhaps  not  even  then  without  the  loss  of  life;  do 
we  not  often  see  this  happen  to  the  female  dog,  who 
has  had  connection  wTith  one  of  her  species  much 
larger  than  herself?  And  that  which  happens  to 
the  lower  class  of  animals  is  much  more  likely  to 
occur  in  the  highest  form,  from  the  peculiar  forma- 
tion of  the  pelvis  in  the  latter.  There  may  be  great 
disproportion,  too  in  the  sexual  organs;  this,  of 
course,  cannot  be  discovered  before  marriage,  there- 
fore cannot  be  guarded  against.  This  disproportion 
is  sometimes  so  very  considerable  that  instead  of  a 
woman  receiving  pleasure  she  suffers  positive  agony 
from  the  embraces  of  her  husband,  and  dreads  his 
approach  as  the  worst  of  tortures;  in  this  case,  all 
that  the  husband  can  do  is  to  have  patience,  and  by 
kindness  and  caresses  endeavor  to  remove  that  sen- 
sation of  fear,  which  most  effectually  increases  the 
rigidity  and  prevents  the  dilation  of  the  parts;  let 
him  be  gentle  and  refrain  from  frequent  connection; 
let  him  bear  in  mind  that  should  his  wife  have  a 
child  this  defect,  in  all  probability,  wrould  be  re- 
moved, and  his  love  be  more  easily  gratified. 

Marriage  between  persons  of  very  different  ages 
should  not  be  allowed,  because  they  lead  to  vice  and 


CAUSKvS  OF  FECUNDITY  AND  INFKCUNDlTY.  55 

tinhappiness,  as  well  as  the  propagation  of  unhealthy, 
puny  offspring,  should  there  be  any.  The  young  man 
who  marries  an  old  woman,  from  inclination,  is  a 
fool;  from  interest,  a  knave;  in  either  case  he  will 
soon  cease  to  regard  her  who  cannot  answer  his  am- 
orous advances,  and  seek  other  and  younger  females, 
and  thus  seduction  and  vice,  with  all  their  long 
chain  of  dire  evils,  are  engendered.  She,  who,  from 
any  motive,  consents  to  wed  a  man  old  enough  to 
be  her  grandfather,  cannot  hope  to  be  designated 
any  better  than  a  church-licensed  prostitute;  for  has 
she  not  sold  her  youth,  her  charms,  her  very  soul, 
for  rank,  fashion,  money,  and  along  with  these,  the 
best  and  fondest  hopes  of  woman,  that  of  being  a 
mother;  which  hope  she  either  resigns,  or  gratifies 
it  by  becoming  something  even  worse  than  the  poor, 
painted  unfortunate— an  adulteress!  Believe  me,  the 
gilded  saloon,  the  obsequious  lackeys,  and  the 
painted  chariot  of  wealth,  are  but  poor  recompenses 
for  the  absence  of  the  hope  of  being  a  happy  wife 
and  a  virtuous  mother. 

There  are  certain  other  causes  which  should  be  a 
complete  bar  to  matrimonial  union;  the  first  of  these 
is  the  marriage  ot  near  relations  by  blood,  as  a  too 
close  consanguinity  between  the  persons  is  sure  to 
deteriorate  the  race,  and  be  productive  of  feeble  chil- 
dren; examples  of  this  are  found  among  the  old  nobil- 
ity of  Spain,  where  the  practice  of  marriage  with 
blood  relations  is  much  followed.  We  find  that,  from 
being  one  of  the  finest  and  most  profilic  nations  in 
the  world,  they  have  now  sunk  to  a  feeble  bodied  and 


■ 

56  CAUSES  OF  FECUNDITY  ANT  INFECUNDITY. 

imbecile  race.  The  same  thing,  from  this  system  of 
breeding  in-and-in,  is  seen  in  a  marked  manner 
amongst  the  Jews,  who,  it  is  well-known,  do  not 
marry  out  of  their  own  sect,  and  thus  they  transmit 
along  with  the  Jewish  face,  many  hereditary  diseases 
as  gout,  scrofula,  consumption,  madness,  epilepsy, 
&c,  &c;  these  would  be,  in  a  great  measure,  coun- 
teracted, by  marrying  into  other  races,  because  the 
good  constitution  of  the  man,  in  one  case,  would  ob- 
viate, materially,  the  evil,  or  weakness,  in  the  con- 
stitution of  the  woman,  although  it  would  not  en  • 
tirely  do  away  with  it,  and  thus  a  more  healthy  off- 
spring would  be  the  result;  while,  of  course,  by  the 
system  of  close  marriages,  every  evil  in  the  parent 
is  continued  in  the  children,  and  not  only  bodily  de- 
fects, but  also  mental  weakness. 

When  it  is  known  that  either  party,  or  their  near 
relatives,  are  afflicted  with  hereditary  disease,  such 
as  the  above  named,  it  should  be  a  bar  to  the  nup- 
tial contract;  for  either  their  children  will  be  afflicted 
in  the  same  manner,  or,  as  is  sometimes  the  case, 
the  disease  may  step  over  the  generation  and  fix  itseli 
on  the  succeeding  one;thus  we  often  find  the  children 
of  a  gouty  person  free  from  disease,  but  their  child^ 
ren  afflicted  with  it.  The  same  may  be  said  of  the 
other  bodily  diseases,  and  also  of  those  denominated 
mental. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  warn  against  marriage 
with  a  person  known  to  be  afflicted  with  venereal 
taint;  the  abhorrence  felt  for  such  an  one  will  be  the 
bestsafeguard  against  such  a  union  but  the  warning 


CAUSES  OF  FECUNDITY  AND  IN  FECUNDITY.  5? 

must  be  given  to  the  one  who  may  have  this  dire 
disease  lurking  in  the  system ;  any  one  who  suspects 
that  such  may  be  the  case,  should  pause  long  before 
contracting  as  solemn  an  engagement  as  that  of 
marriage,  and  should  undergo  a  proper  course  of 
treatment  under  the  advice  of  a  competent  medical 
man  before  doing  so,  or  disease  may  be  communi- 
cated not  only  to  the  partner  chosen  for  life,  but  fee- 
ble, sickly,  diseased,  or  still-born  children,  may  be 
the  consequence  of  perhaps  a  cause  barely  suspected 
to  exist.  The  late  far-famed  Mr.  Abernethy  relates 
a  case  where  still-born  child  was  born  after  still-born 
child,  and  yet  neither  parent  exhibited  traces  of  the 
venereal  disease;  the  husband,  however,  confessed  he 
had  had  secondary  symptoms  of  this  malady  not 
long  before  marriage;  on  this  admission,  Mr.  A. 
caused  both  to  take  a  proper  course  of  alterative 
medicines;  afterwards  the  lady  bore  to  her  husband 
several  healthy  children.  It  should  also  be  borne 
in  mind  that  what  are  called  secondary  symptoms  of 
venereal  disease,  may  make  their  appearance  long 
after  the  primary  sore  has  healed,  and  that  these 
secondary  symptoms,  without  giving  rise  to  any 
primary  ones,  may  be  communicated  to  another  per- 
son; the  late  Sir  Astley  Cooper  relates  a  striking 
case  of  the  above  nature  in  his  lectures. 

By  many  drunkenness  is  looked  upcn  as  hereditary; 
this  is  not,  however,  always  the  case,  many  fathers 
have  sober  sons  and  vice  versa,  but  still,  when  the 
parents  are  dissipated,  it  is  very  frequently  trans- 
mitted to  the  children,  like  any  other  peculiarity  of 


58  CAUSES  OF  FECUNDITY  AND  INFECUNDITY. 

dissipation  or  habit;  it  would  be  well,  then,  for  eith- 
ei  man  or  woman,  to  pause  before  he  or  she  forms 
an  alliance  with  one  who  came  of  a  notoriously 
drunken  stock,  for  no  evil  is  much  greater  in  life, 
than  that  of  having  a  husband  or  wife  prone  to  ine- 
briety; in  short  an  habitual  drunkard.  From  this  cause 
alone  would  spring  enough  misery  to  cause  life  to  be 
a  curse,  and  death  in  any  form  a  blessing.  The 
awful  disease,  mania,  in  any  of  its  forms,  should  be 
an  inseparable  objection  to  marriage  with  any  mem- 
ber of  a  family  so  afflicted,  for  there  is  no  cause  to 
doubt  the  hereditary  nature  of  this  malady;  there  are 
whole  families,  the  members  of  which,  from  genera- 
tion to  generation,  it  is  well-known,  are  more  or  less 
afflicted  at  some  time  of  their  lives,  with  madness, 
and  some  of  these  families  are  noble  and  their 
branches,  it  is  much  to  be  regretted,  have  been 
transmitted  to  other  noble  and  wealthy  families,  and 
have  not  failed  to  propagate  their  infirmity. 

Peculiarities  of  formation  of  temper,  disposition, 
and  even  modes  of  thought  are  transmitted  from  pa- 
rent to  children;  thus  some  families  are  found,  the 
members  of  which  have  a  supernumerary  finger  or  a 
want  of  one  of  those  members,  or  they  may  have  a 
redundancy  or  a  deficiency  of  some  other  part;  tem- 
per is  often  transmitted  and  also  peculiar  habits,  and 
this  even,  when  the  children  have  never  known 
their  parent,  whose  peculiarities  they  inherit.  There 
is  no  question  but  that  a  great  improvement,  both 
mentally  and  bodily,  would  accrue  to  the  offspring, 
from  attention  to  proper  objects  of  marriage,  if  none 


CAUSES  OF  FECUNDITY  AND  INFECUNDITY.  59 


bdt  the  perfect  were  to  marry;  but,  if  this  were  the 
ease,  the  indifferent  specimens  of  poor  humanity 
would  be  condemned  to  a  life  of  celibacy;  this  can- 
not be  the  case,  and  man  can  never  hope  to  improve 
the  breed  of  his  species  to  the  same  extent  as  he 
does  the  breed  of  cattle,  or  horses,  or  even  the  cul- 
tivation of  flowers;  In  the  two  former  instances 
none  but  the  best  specimens  are  chosen  for  breed- 
ing, and  by  crossing  one  breed  with  another  any  de- 
fect in  one  of  the  parents  is  counteracted  in  the  off- 
spring by  the  other  parent  having  the  defective  organ 
or  part,  in  a  state  of  perfection.  But  man  cannot  al- 
ways discover  in  his  charmer  the  evils  of  formation 
that  should  deter  a  union,  though  he  can  avoid  the 
more  glaring  defects  of  formation,  disease  and  tem- 
per, and  this  it  is  his  duty  to  do  for  the  sake  of  those 
who  are  to  be  the  fruit  of  his  marriage,  as  well  as  for 
his  own  happiness:  and  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  by 
proper  attention  being  paid  to  natural  formation  and 
health,  even  as  far  as  we  can  ascertain  it,  any  race 
of  men  could  be  greatly  improved,  both  physically 
and  intellectually. 

Those  who  are  conscious  of  physical  malformation 
of  the  generative  organs,  or  parts  which  contain  them 
in  the  female,  viz.,  the  pelvis,  are  not  fit  objects  for 
marriage,  and  should  not  enter  into  wedlock  until 
such  defects  are  removed,  if  they  admit  of  remedy  by 
surgical  aid  ;if  they  do  not,  they  should  not  marry  at  all 

The  principal  malformations  in  the  female  sex  are 
those  of  the  pelvis  and  vagina;  the  pelvis  may  be  so 
small  or  distorted  from  disease  of  the  bones  during 


SO  CAUSES  OF  FECUNDITY  AND  INFECUNDITY. 

infancy  or  in  after  life,  that  a  living  child  could  not 
pass  through  it,  and  the  mother's  life  would  most 
likely  be  lost  during  or  soon  after  the  necessary  op- 
eration of  delivery  had  been  performed. 

Another  defect  is  either  the  entire  absence  of  the 
outlet  from,  or  imperf oration  of  the  vagina;  the  for- 
mer is  obvious  to  the  touch,  the  latter  is  generally 
known  by  the  monthly  discharge  not  coming  away, 
and  causing  a  great  uneasiness.  The  latter  is  always 
to  be  remedied  by  surgical  aid,  the  former  some- 
times by  an  operation. 

In  the  male  sex  the  malformation  which  presents 
an  absolute  bar  to  marriage,  is  the  total  absence  of 
the  penis,  though  the  opposite  extreme  or  very  large 
size  of  that  organ  (occasioning  great  injury  to  the 
woman)  should  almost  be  considered  an  obstacle. 

The  absence  of  the  testicles  from  the  scrotum  is 
no  bar  to  marriage;  they  are  still  lodged  where  they 
were  before  birth;  and  not  in  reality  absent;  and  a 
man  so  situated  is  quite  as  capable,  some  say  more 
so,  of  begetting  children  than  another. 

As  one  of  the  great  objects  of  marriage  is  a  contin- 
uation of  the  species,  any  known  cause  of  impoten- 
cy  on  the  part  of  the  male, or  sterility  in  the  woman, 
should  forbid  the  nuptial  rite,  as  it  is  well  known 
that  few  unions,  to  which  no  children  have  been  born 
are  felicitous;  and  nothing  is  more  likely  to  cause 
infidelity  than  a  want  of  offspring,  and  hence  per- 
petual misery. 

Impotency  is  the  incapability  on  the  part  of  either 
man  or  woman  of  partaking  in  the  nuptial  embrace. 


CAUSES  OF  FECUNDITY  AND  INFECUNDITY.  61 

In  the  woman  it  can  only  arise  from  malformation 
of  the  organs  of  generation;  in  man  it  may  arise  from 
malformation,  or  from  various  bodily  or  mental 
causes,  which  will,  in  other  parts  of  this  work,  be 
described.  Sterility  is  the  incapability  of  reproduc- 
tion, though  the  organs  of  reproduction  may,  up  to 
a  certain  point,  be  capable  of  performing  their  func- 
tions; thus  a  woman  may  be  sterile  and  not  impo- 
tent, or  impotent  from  imperforation  of  the  vagina, 
but  not  sterile  if  that  was  removed.  Man  who,  from 
excess  in  women,  Onanism,  diseased  testicles,  etc., 
is  incapable  of  procreating,  though  he  has  all  the 
organs  requisite,  is  sterile;  of  course  if  he  is  impo- 
tent, he  must  of  necessity  be  also  sterile. 

Impotence  in  the  male  has  been  ascribed  to  vari- 
ous causes,  the  principal  ones,  however,  are  malfor- 
mation, as  the  misplacement  of  the  opening  of  the 
urethra,  the  natural  absence  of  the  penis,  or  its  re- 
moval by  operation,  the  removal  of  both  the  testes 
for  a  diseased  state  of  them,  excess  in  venereal  pleas- 
ure, Onanism,  general  debility  of  the  body,  paraly- 
sis of  the  muscles  of  the  penis,  cold  temperament, 
rendering  the  man  insensible  to  venereal  desire  and 
also  mental  causes. 

The  first-named  cause,  misplacement  of  the  open- 
ing of  the  urethra,  operates  by  not  permitting  the 
semen  to  be  sufficiently  ejaculated  into  the  vagina 
to  produce  impregnation,  but  without  the  misplace- 
ment is  very  great,  i.  without  the  opening  is  very 
near  the  root  of  the  penis,  or  in  the  perinaeum,  it 
will  hardly  do  so,  as  it  is  sufficient  in  many  cases 


62  CAUSES  OF  FECUNDITY  AND  INFECUNDITY. 

there  being  an  aptitude  on  the  part  of  the  female  to 
become  pregnant,  that  the  semen  should  be  merely 
deposited  on  the  labia  for  the  purpose  of  producing 
impregnation;  here  it  is  supposed  to  get  mixed  with 
the  female  secretions,  and  with  them  become  absorb- 
ed; this  then,  without  the  deformity  is  very  great, 
will  hardly  cause  impotency  if  a  little  care  is  taken 
by  the  male;  let  it  always  be  understood  that  the  se- 
men is  of  so  subtle  a  nature  that  the  smallest  quan- 
tity, even  when  diluted,  is  sufficient  to  fecundate  a 
woman  who  is  in  an  apt  state  to  become  pregnant. 
It  has  been  advised  by  some  medical  men  that  when 
from  the  above  cause  a  woman  is  sterile,  the  semen 
should  be  collected  and  injected  into  the  vagina  im- 
mediately after  the  act  of  copulation;  it  is  said  it  has 
been  done  with  success;  of  this  I  have  no  experience 
and  should  not  recommend  so  inconsistent  an  experi- 
ment without  the  necessity  for  having  children  be 
more  urgent  than  usual.  This  malformation  in  instan- 
ces, especially  if  not  congenital,  can  be  removed  by  art. 

The  next  cause,  want  of  penis,  is  a  complete  bar 
to  sexual  intercourse,  though  the  want  of  this  organ 
does  not  prove  a  man  is  incapable  of  procreating,  if  he 
had  the  proper  virile  organ  for  conveying  the  semen ; 
on  the  other  hand,  men  so  unfortunately  situated,  are 
tormented  much  by  the  desire  of  sexual  commerce. 
If,  however,  there  is  a  possible  rudiment  of  the  or- 
gan left,  in  all  probability  the  man  is  capable  of  be- 
getting children,  though  not  affording  much  or  any 
pleasure  to  the  female  with  whom  he  has  inter- 
course.   Such,  a  man  should  not  marry;  should  he  do 


CAUSES  OF  FECUNDITY  AND  IN  FECUNDITY.  63 

so,  without  his  wife  is  a  woman  of  uncommon  vir- 
tue, high  morality  and  cool  temperament  he  may 
rest  assured  she  will  not  prove  faithful. 

The  absence  of  the  testicles  from  the  scrotum 
proves  nothing  but  that,  in  all  probability,  they  are 
retained  in  the  abdomen  ;  a  man  thus  formed,  is  as 
capable  of  procreating  as  one  who  is  natural  in  this 
respect;  women,  I  have  heard,  have  made  mistakes 
on  this  head,  and  have  cause  to  rue  their  easy  faith, 
and  their  smattering  of  learning,  which  led  to  the 
belief  of  the  absence  of  danger.  Truly,  in  this  case 
Pope  is  right, '  'a  little  learning  is  a  dangerous  thing. ' ' 

If  the  testicles  have  been  removed  on  account  of 
disease,  the  procreative  power  is  lost,  though  some- 
times the  inclination  for  sexual  intercourse  remains, 
and  the  penis  is  capable  of  more  or  less  erection, and 
even  of  ejaculation,  but  the  emission  in  this  case 
consists  of  the  prostatic  fluid  and  mucus.  It  is  said 
that  the  female  inhabitants  of  eastern  harems  not 
unfrequently  have  recourse  to  their  guardian  eu- 
nuchs to  gratify  their  lust,  without  danger  of  be- 
coming pregnant.  The  testicles  may  be  removed  by 
operation  and  yet  the  man  be  capable  of  procreating 
once,  by  means  of  the  semen  which  has  been  secre^ 
ted,  and  lodged  in  the  vesiculae  seminales  before  the*, 
operation;  afterwards  he  is  barren.  Several  cases  ot 
this  description  are  related  on  undoubted  authority, 
one  by  Sir  A.  Cooper.  One  testicle  is  sufficient  foi. 
the  purpose  of  generation;  nature  in  this  has  been 
bountiful  as  in  all  the  other  organs  of  sense  which 
are  double,  not  that  we  could  see  equally  well  with 


04  CAUSES  OF  FECUNDITY  AND  INFEC  UNDITY. 

one  eye  as  with  two,  but  because  being  provideni 
of  us,  our  wise  and  kind  Creator  has  bestowed  two, 
lest  accident  should  deprive  us  of  sight;  to  which 
deprivation  we  shouldbe  much  more  liable  if  the  or- 
gan had  been  single. 

Excess  in  venereal  pleasures,  especially  if  prac- 
ticed early  in  life,  and  Onanism  or  masturbation  are 
very  often  the  cause  of  men  not  being  capable  of 
procreating;  both  of  them  tend  to  form  what  is  called 
seminal  weakness;  that  is,  there  will  be  occasionally 
throughout  the  day,  almost  without  any  erection  of 
the  penis,  a  fluid  ejaculated,  which  does  not,  how- 
ever, possess  a  fecundating  power,  but  which  weak- 
ens so  much  that  it  reduces  youth,  as  far  as  the  gen- 
erative function  is  concerned,  to  the  state  of  old  age. 

The  solitary  vice,  Onanism,  [the  sin  of  Onan], 
masturbation,  self-pollution,  call  it  what  you  will, 
is  detrimental,  not  only  to  the  individuals  who  prac- 
tice it,  but  to  future  human  beings,  which  will  be 
treated  ot  at  length,  in  the  after  part  of  this  work. 

The  vice  is  often  acquired  at  a  very  early  age  by 
children  of  both  sexes,  who  are  committed  to  the 
care  of  nurse-maids;  these  ignorant  persons,  not  un- 
frequently,  when  they  find  a  child  will  not  sleep, 
have  recourse  to  playing  with  their  genital  organs, 
for  the  purpose  of  soothing  them  to  sleep;  this  pre- 
maturely excites  these  parts,  and  instances  are  known 
of  children,  from  the  ages  of  seven  to  ten,  who,  al- 
ready, eagerly  practiced  this  horrid  vice  ;  no  child 
should  be  allowed  to  sleep  with  a  nurse-maid,  without 
a  thorough  knowledge  of  her  character  has  been  pre- 


CAUSES  OF  FECUNDITY  AND  INFECUNDITY.  65 

viously  obtained,  and,  if  possible  children  should 
have  separate  beds. 

Boarding  schools,  male  and  female,  are  often  the 
hot-beds  of  self- pollution  ;  the  boys  in  them  sleep 
two  in  each  bed,  and  the  younger  ones  soon  learn 
from  the  older  ones  this  dreadful  practice;  ushers  of 
schools  have  been  accused  of  teaching  such  things, 
but  I  trust  for  the  honor  of  human  nature  that  this 
is  false.  The  girls  are  no  better  off,  but  a  greater 
degree  of  secrecy  being  observed  by  females  than 
males,  the  truth  is  not  easily  arrived  at,  and  to  hint 
to  the  head  of  an  "Establishment  for  Young  L,adies" 
that  the  pale  looks  and  ill  health  of  her  pupils,  in 
all  probability,  proceeded  from  this  vice,  conjoined 
with  too  little  exercise  and  tight  lacing,  would  be  to 
procure  an  immediate  intimation  that  the  meddling 
medical  man's  services  were  no  longer  needed,  and, 
however  honorable  and  upright  the  medical  man 
may  be,  he  is  generally  too  poor  to  take  such  a 
course,  especially  when  he  knows  that  his  self-sacri- 
fice would  not  prevent  one  of  these  girls  from  contin- 
uing the  baleful  round  denominated  * 'female  educa- 
tion. ' '  When,  however,  their  pale  looks  and  ill  health 
is  continually  accompanied  by  excessive  nervousness 
or  trembling,  indigestion  and  permanent  costiveness, 
a  dejected  carriage,  loss  of  spirits  and  hysteria,  un- 
usual sallownessof  the  complexion,  every  effort  upon 
the  part  of  the  governess  ought  to  be  made  to  satisiy 
herself  on  this  point;  indeed,  whenever  these  appear- 
ances are  present  in  young  women,  without  any  evi- 
dent hygienic  cause,  the  prevalence  of  this  vice  may  be 


66  CAUSES  OF  FECUNDITY  AND  INFECUNDITY. 

suspected,  and  should  insure  the  attention  of  their 
friends,  for  the  frightful  ravages  that  this  solitary  vice 
makes  in  the  const?  !:t:tion  can  only  be  appreciated  by 
those  who  have  seen  ::  ts  effects — as  have  most  medi- 
cal men. 

It  should  be  a  rale  at  home  and  at  school,  that 
children  should  not  go  to  bed  until  they  are  tired 
by  real  exercise  in  the  open  air,  and  are  so  weary 
from  healthful  exeition  that  the  moment  they  place 
their  heads  on  the  pillow  they  will  fall  asleep. 

Excess  of  venereal  enjoyment,  even  when  prac- 
ticed in  the  manner  which  Nature  points  out,  causes 
many  of  the  abov?  evils,  though  not  to  so  great  an 
extent  as  does  masturbation,  both  of  the  practices 
having  considerable  effect  on  the  power  of  the  mind. 
Hufeland,  the  well-known  German  author,  remarks, 
"the  more  we  stimulate  the  generative  powers,  and 
waste  its  juices,  the  more  does  the  soul  lose  its  fac- 
ulty of  thought,  its  energy,  its  acuteness  and  its 
memory.  Nothing  in  this  world  can  so  much,  and 
so  irretrievably,  ruin  the  brightest  mental  powers 
— that  moral  galaxy  of  the  first  magnitude — '  'as  ex- 
cesses of  this  kind." 

The  author  makes,  in  the  next  sentence,  some  re^ 
marks  so  applicable  to  the  proper  age  for  intercourse 
and  the  guarded  manner  in  which  it  should  be  in- 
dulged,  that  I  shall  not  apologize  for  quoting  them. 
'  'It  may  be  asked, ' '  he  says,  '  'what  is  meant  by  ex^ 
cess  in  physical  love?  My  answer  is,  when  either  sex 
indulges  that  passion  too  early,  before  the  body  is 
completely  formed;  females  before  the  age  of  eight- 
een and  males  before  that  of  twenty-one;  when  this 


CAUSES  OF  FECUNDITY  AND  INFECUNDITY.  6? 

enjoyment  is  too  often  and  too  violently  repeated, 
which  may  be  known  from  the  following  consequent 
ces:  lassitude,  dejection  and  loss  of  appetite;  when 
one,  by  frequent  change  of  object  and  circumstan- 
ces, or  by  artificial  stimulus  of  spiceries,  heating 
liquors  and  the  like,  excites  new  desires  in  the  re- 
laxed powers,  or  makes  that  exertion  during  the 
time  of  digestion,  and,  to  include  the  whole  in  a  few 
words,  when  one  enjoys  physical  love  without  mar- 
riage; for  it  is  under  the  matrimonial  tie,  which  ex- 
cludes the  stimulus  of  variet  y,  and  directs  the  phy* 
sical  propensity  to  a  higher  moral  object,  that  thU 
passion  can  be  physically  refined,  that  is  to  say, 
rendered  salutary  and  useful/' 

Everything  that  has  here  bevn  said  is  applicable, 
in  an  eminent  degree,  to  Onanism  also,  for  that 
forced  and  unnatural  vice  increases,  in  an  extraor- 
dinary manner,  the  straining  of  the  organs  and  the 
weakening  connected  with  it.  Onanism  in  either 
sex  does  infinitely  more  mischief  than  natural  en- 
joyment. Horrid  is  the  impression  stamped  by  Na- 
ture on  such  an  offender.  He  is  like  a  faded  rase — ■ 
a  tree  blasted  in  its  bloom— a  wandeiiug  skeleton. 
All  his  fire  and  spirit  are  deadened  by  this  detesta- 
ble vice,  and  nothing  remains  but  debility,  languor, 
livid  paleness,  a  withered  body  and  a  degraded  soul. 
The  eyes  lose  their  lustre  and  strength,  the  pupih 
seem  sunk,  the  features  seem  distorted  and  length- 
ened, the  rosy  complexion  of  youth  vanishes,  and 
the  visage  appears  of  a  pale  leaden  color. 

The  whole  body  becomes  affected  and  sensible  of 
the  slightest  exertion,     the  muscular  power  is  lost, 


68  CAUSES  OF  FECUNDITY  AND  INFECUNDITY. 

sleep  brings  with  it  no  refreshment,  every  movement 
is  attended  with  torture;  the  legs  can  no  longer  sup- 
port the  body,  the  hands  tremble,  aching  pains 
arise  in  all  the  limbs,  the  faculty  of  thought  is  de- 
ranged, and  cheerfulness  is  vanished.  The  unhap- 
py sufferer  speaks  little,  and  as  if  it  were  only  by 
force,  and  all  his  former  liveliness  of  mind  is 
depressed.  A  youth  endowed  by  Nature  with  ge- 
nius and  talents  becomes  dull  or  totally  stupid;  the 
mind  loses  all  its  taste  for  virtuous  and  exalted 
ideas,  and  the  imagination  is  altogether  corrupted. 
The  slightest  circumstances  detailed  respecting  fe- 
males is  capable  of  exciting  in  him  desire,  shame, 
horror  and  repentance,  and  despair  of  his  evils  be- 
ing cured  renders  his  misery  complete. 

The  whole  life  of  such  a  man  is  a  continued  suc- 
cession of  secret  regrets,  painful  sensations,  arising 
from  the  consciousness  of  having  brought  upon  him- 
self internal  weakness,  irresolution,  disgust  of  life; 
and  it  need  excite  no  surprise  that  such  a  wretch 
should  at  length  become  a  self-murderer,  for  no  man 
is  so  exposed  to  suicide  as  the  Onanist.  The  powers  of 
digestion  are  destroyed,  the  patient  is  tormented  with 
flatulencies  and  cramp  in  the  stomach;  the  blood  is 
corrupted, the  breast  is  choked  up  with  phlegm,  and 
eruptions  of  the  whole  frame,  epilepsy,  asthma,  slow 
fever,  debility  and  premature  death  are  the  conse- 
quences; and  if  these  pages  meet  the  eye  of  any  fe- 
male whose  mind  and  person  has  become  corrupted 
by  this  fascinating  and  detestable  practice,  let  her  be 
assured  that  the  consequences  to  her  will  be  accom- 


CAUSES  01*  FECUNDITY  AND  INFECUNDITY.  69 

panied  (if  she  still  persists,)  with  even  greater  hor- 
rors; and  let  me,  for  her  own  sake,  pray  of  her  to 
break  off  the  practice  at  once — its  continuance  will 
totally  destroy  the  beauty  both  of  form  and  features. 

General  debility  of  the  body,  from  whatever  cause 
arising,  may,  for  the  time,  produce  impotency;  that 
however,  will  pass  away  as  strength  is  acquired; 
temporary  irapoteucy  may  also  be  caused  by  any 
exciting  or  depressing  passion,  which  is  in  operation 
during  sexual  congress. 

There  have  been  persons  of  so  cold  a  temperament 
as  to  be  perfectly  insensible  to  the  blandishments  of 
beauty,  and  without  the  least  desire  for  sexual  en- 
joyments; persons  of  this  kind  have,  generally,  white 
or  fair  hair,  they  have  little  or  no  beard;  the  face  is 
pale;  the  flesh  soft  and  hairless;  the  voice  sharp, 
piercing  and  bell-like  in  sound,  the  eyes  dull  and 
melancholy;  the  shoulders  straight,  and  the  form 
rounded;  the  testicles  are  small  and  withered,  pendu- 
lous and  soft,  the  scrotum  is  flaccid,  there  is  no  hair 
on  the  pubes,  the  perspiration  is  acrid,  the  sensation 
of  fear  is  easily  excited,  and  the  person  displays  pu- 
sillanimity on  the  least  occasion;  such  persons  who 
are  said  to  be  of  profound  lymphatic  temperament, 
are  impotent,  for,  from  their  state  of  apathy,  erec- 
tion of  the  penis  does  not  take  place. 

Paralysis  of  the  muscles  of  the  penis,  by  prevent- 
ing an  erection,  ma}-  also  cause  impotency;  bad  stric- 
ture, by  preventing  the  ejaculation  of  the  seminal 
fluid  is  another  cause;  large  scrotal  rupture,  or  great 
enlargement  of  the  testicles,  from  disease,  causing 


CAUSES  OF  FECUNDITY  AND  INFECUNDlfY. 

the  penis  to  be  imbedded  in  the  scrotum,  may  cause 
impotency,  but  generally  admits  of  relief. 

Mental  causes  may  produce  impotency,  such  as 
disgust  for  the  object,  the  mind  being  occupied  by 
abtruse  studies;  excessive  desire,  which  produces  so 
great  a  rigidity  of  the  penis  that  the  semen  cannot 
be  ejaculated;  the  fear  of  being  impotent  is  not  un- 
frequently  the  cause  of  impotency.  Hatred  for  the 
wife,  or  satiety,  may  cause  impotency  with  her,  and 
yet  with  another  woman,  the  man  may  be  capable  ot 
fulfilling  his  functions;  excess  of  respectful  love  has 
also  produced  the  same  effect,  as  also  a  thousand 
other  mental  causes  which  might  be  cited,  for  impo- 
tency at  one  time,  and  fruitfulness  at  another;  they 
all  admit  of  cure  by  appropriate  remedies  if  taken  in 
time. 

The  causes  of  impotency  tn  women  are  congenital 
malformations,  or  those  produced  by  diseases;  they 
are,  at  least  the  more  obvious  ones,  absence,  or  ob- 
literations of  the  sexual  organs,  as  the  vagina,  or 
uterus;  the  vagina  being  very  small  and  contracted, 
or  impervious  from  bands  of  adhesive  matter  cross- 
ing it,  or  tumors  occupying  it  or  want  of  rupture  of 
the  hymen,  owing  to  extreme  toughness  of  that  mem- 
brane. There  are  also  many  other  causes  of  impo- 
tency, as  great  confusion  of  anatomical  structure, 
rendering  sex  doubtful,  cohesion  of  the  labia,  etc., 
etc.  Some  of  the  causes  admit  of  cure,  others  do 
not.  It  were  in  vain,  in  a  work  of  this  nature,  to  at- 
tempt to  point  out  all  the  causes  of  impotency  in 
Women;  still  more  idle  to  suggest  a  method  of  cure, 


CAUSES  0^  FECUNDITY  AND  INFECUNDITY.  71 

every  case  requiring  a  separate  study  from  the  sur- 
geon. L,et  it  be  remembered  that  a  woman  may  be 
impotent,  that  she  may  be  incapable  of  receiving  in 
the  ordinary  manner,  the  embraces  of  the  male,  and 
yet  not  be  sterile. 

But  I  now  have  to  speak  of  a  very  delicate  subject; 
one,  however,  of  not  very  rare  occurrence.  I  mean 
the  case  of  the  woman  allowing  her  husband  all  the 
gratification  of  the  connubial  relation  without  ex- 
periencing any  of  the  pleasures  of  love's  bashful 
rights,  and  no  one  but  the  woman  who  through  years 
and  years  has  born  this  trouble  (sometimes  secret- 
ly) in  her  heart  knows  anything  about  the  blankness 
of  life  or  the  desert  through  which  she  passes;  the 
picture  we  cannot  draw.  I  wTill  only  say  the  af- 
fection of  man  is  not  strong  enough  to  put  up  with 
such  a  state  of  things  and  continue  the  relation  at  all. 
There  are  a  few  cases  which  it  is  impossible  to  re- 
lieve; fortunately  only  a  few,  if  scientific  medical  aid 
be  procured  and  persisted  in  sufficiently  long,  and 
there  are  actually  many  cases  depending  on  some  va- 
ginal or  womb  derangement  easily  curable,  over- 
looked by  the  husband,  not  thought  of  by  the  regular 
medical  attendant;  but  the  ice  is  hid  in  the  heart  of 
the  woman  so  deeply  that  even  friends  do  not  know 
it,  still  it  continues  to  cause  the  world  to  feel  cold 
and  uninspiring  as  long  as  she  lives,  if  it  is  uncured. 

The  causes  of  sterility  in  women  are  many;  a  fre- 
quent one  is  leucorrhcea,  or  whites;  some  women  are 
so  irritable  and  tender,  that  they  wTill  suffer  great 
oain  from  sexual  intercourse,  and  thus  at  least,  un- 


fe  CAUSES  OF  FECUNDITY  AND  INFECL'NDITY. 

til  such  irritability  is  allayed,  sterility  is  produced. 
The  absence  of  the  uterus,  would,  of  course,  be  a 
cause  of  sterility,  as  would  also  imperviousness  of  its 
mouth  and  neck,  or  the  passage  of  the  fallopian 
tubes  to  the  ovaries  being  imperforate,  or  absence  of 
these  bodies;  in  these  instances  no  cure  can  be  looked 
for,  except  in  the  second,  namely,  imperforation  of 
the  mouth  of  the  womb.  If  this  cause  was  ascertain- 
ed, and  the  defect  was  occasioned  by  accident,  as  in- 
flammation of  the  part,  causing  adhesion,  it  might 
be  remedied  by  proper  instruments  in  the  hands  of  a 
skillful  surgeon;  the  first,  and  two  last,  cannot  be 
remedied;  in  the  first,  there  could  be  no  place  in 
which  the  foetus  could  grow;  in  the  others  there 
would  either  be  no  ovum  or  it  could  not  pass  into 
the  womb.  All  diseases  which  produce  constitution- 
al disturbance  may  cause  sterility,  as,  also,  do  var- 
ious displacements  of  the  parts  of  generation.  To 
dwell  on  all  the  causes  of  sterility  would  fill  a  vol- 
ume, without  adding  much  to  the  knowledge  of  the 
non-medical  man;  most  of  the  causes,  as  already 
shown,  admit  of  relief  by  surgical  aid,  which  of 
them  do  so,  it  would  be  presumptuous  in  me  to  pro- 
nounce without  an  examination  or  history  of  the  case. 

The  moral  or  mental  causes  of  sterility  in  women 
nearly  resemble  those  of  impotency  in  men;  they 
are  disgust,  fear,  hatred,  timidity,  excess  of  ardor, 
etc.  Thus  we  find  prostitutes  seldom  bear  children 
while  following  their  occupation,  but  wdien  thev 
marry  they  become  prolific,  if  they  confine  their 
favors  to  one  man. 


CAUSES  OF  FECUNDITY  AND  INFECUNDITY.  73 

I  have  dwelt  longer  on  the  subject  of  impotency 
and  sterility  than  I  intended,  and  yet  their  impor- 
tance is  such  that  I  fear  I  have  not  said  enough. 
Some  of  the  causes  named  could  not  be  known  to 
the  persons  themselves,  and  of  course,  could  be 
deemed  no  bar  to  marriage. 

Habitual  intoxication  and  habits  of  dissipation, 
should  also  bar  marriage,  as  marriage  with  such  per- 
sons, instead  of  being  a  blessing,  would  be  a  curse, 
and  there  is  no  doubt  that  habitual  intoxication 
either  prevents  a  union  being  prolific,  or  when  off- 
spring is  the  result  of  such  union,  the}*  are  of  a 
lower  order  of  mental  and  bodily  strength  than  are 
the  children  of  more  temperate  persons. 

The  venereal  taint  is  often  the  cause  of  a  union  not 
being  fruitful,  as  already  pointed  out.  I  cannot 
imagine  a  man  or  woman  marrying,  knowing  they 
are  thus  situated;  but  should  such  a  thing  happen, 
they  may  reckon  on  either  being  barren,  or  having 
either  dead,  or  children  in  a  state  of  loathsome  dis- 
ease, born  to  them.  It  would  be  futile  to  reason  with 
such  persons  who  could,  for  a  moment,  entertain  the 
idea  of  marriage,  knowing  themselves  to  be  so  sit- 
uated. The  idea  is  too  horrible  for  any  one  to  dwell 
upon  one  instant,  who  is  not  morally  beneath  the 
poor  animals  whom  he  dares  to  call  brutes. 

PROLIFIC  AND  UNFRUITFUL  MARRIAGES— CAUSES,  ETC. 

There  are  several  causes  which  may  influence  fe- 
cundity in  healthy  persons,  and  prevent  them  from 
having  offspring  merely  from  inattention  and  waut 
of  knowledge  of  a  few  simple  facts. 


74  CAUSES  OF  FECUNDITY  AXD  INFECUNDrfY. 

Amongst  others  may  be  cited  violence  in  consum  - 
mating marital  duties,  which  in  most  instances  is  un- 
necessary. Violence  may  be  carried  to  so  great  an 
extent  as  to  produce  contusions  of  the  soft  parts  of 
the  woman,  so  that  connection  afterwards  gives  her 
excessive  pain,  and  hence,  places  a  bar  on  concep- 
tion. Disproportion  of  the  genital  organs  is  a  source 
of  much  mischief.  If  rash  means  are  resorted  to  in 
the  consummation  of  marriage,  the  neck  and  mouth 
of  the  womb  may  be  injured,  and  sterility  be  the 
consequence,  though  a  little  patience  and  manage- 
ment is  all  that  is  required  to  insure  conception. 

It  sometimes,  however,  happens  that  there  is  so 
very  great  a  disproportion  between  the  male  and  fe- 
male organs  that  copulation  is  next  to,  or  entirely 
impossible,  without  great  injury  to  the  female.  If 
the  latter,  however,  is  young,  time  may  effect  much, 
aided  by  very  gentle  and  gradual  means  of  dilata- 
tion, for  the  vagina  is  a  canal  capable  of  great  exten- 
sion, if  used  gently.  Roughness  and  violence,  by 
producing  inflammation  would  only  increase  the  evil. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  above  that  all  violent  at- 
tempts at  coition  are  to  be  avoided.  If  persevered  in, 
great  and  perhaps  irreparable  mischief  may  be  done 
the  woman;  so  much  indeed  that  she  may  never  af- 
ter be  able  to  bear  the  approach  of  her  husband,  or 
if  she  does  permit  his  embraces,  it  will  be  with  fear 
and  trembling,  and  this,  like  other  mental  emotions, 
will  be  sufficient  to  cause  barrenness.  Persons  thus 
afflicted  should  consult  me  without  delay,  as  I  can 


CAUSE  OF  FECUNDITY  AND  INFECUNDITY.  75 
in  a  large  majority  of  those  cases,  give  advice  and 
remedies  that  afford  immediate  relief. 

They  who  wish  to  have  children,  should  avoid  too 
great  and  frequent  exertion  of  the  genital  organs. 
Nothing  is  more  likely  to  cause  sterility  than  too 
frequent  indulgence  in  amorous  pleasures.  When 
this  is  the  case,  it  almost  reduces  the  wife  to  the 
level  of  a  courtezan,  at  least  as  far  as  her  chance  of 
becoming  a  mother  extends, 

A  very  frequent  cause  of  miscarriage,  is  the  habit 
of  still  continuing  to  copulate  as  often  during  preg- 
nancy as  before  that  event  took  place;  and  thus  un- 
thinkingly, in  a  thousand  cases,  are  the  hopes  of  the 
married  blighted,  who  had  looked  fondly  forward  to 
the  day  which  would  have  made  them  parents.  It 
is  not,  perhaps,  necessary  that  during  the  whole  of 
the  period  of  pregnancy,  sexual  intercourse  should  be 
absolutely  avoided,  but  it  should  be  indulged  in 
very  sparingly  in  the  earlier  and  middle  months, 
and  hardly  at  all  in  the  latter  ones.  If  the  prompt- 
ings of  instinct  in  the  female  are  listened  to,  and 
acted  upon,  little  mischief  will  arise,  for  Nature 
tells  her  plainly,  by  a  feeling  of  almost  disgust,  that 
the  approach  of  the  husband  will  be  detrimental  to 
her.  And  I  would  advise  all  men  who  wish  to  hear 
themselves  called  by  the  sacred  and  endearing  name 
of  father,  to  control  their  own  desires  and  wishes, 
however  difficult  it  may  be,  for  the  sake  of  their  un- 
born infant,  and  the  loving  and  chosen  one  by  their 
side.  If  they  do  this,  they  may  hope  to  see  a  healthy 
offspring,  and  smiling  wife  and  mother  around  their 
table  to  cheer  the  evening  of  their  lives,  instead  of  a 


76  CAUSES  OF  FECUNDITY  AND  INFECUNDITY. 

pale  and  sickly  woman,  whose  constitution  has  been 
ruined,  whose  blood  has  been  drained,  by  frequent 
miscarriages,  and  whose  very  heart  has  been  wrung 
by  the  hopes  deferred,  which  maketh  the  heart  sick 
— together  with  this,  instead  of  the  joyous  voices  of 
children  in  whom  you  would  again  live,  you  will 
have  a  voiceless  and  childless  home.  Choose  then 
between  them:  a  check  for  a  time  on  your  passions, 
or  misery,  such  only  as  the  old  childless  can  feel,  and 
remember  that  such  would  be  the  work  of  your  own 
ungoverned  passions. 

It  seems  almost  unnecessary  for  me  to  warn  my 
readers  against  having  connection  with  their  wives 
when  the  latter  have  their  monthly  illness  or  menses 
upon  them;  the  act  seems  of  so  objectionable  a  nature 
that  I  should  hope  that  the  very  thought  would  ex- 
cite  disgust.  It  is  expressly  forbidden  by  Scripture,  in 
chapters  XVI  and  XVIII  of  Leviticus;  in  the  last 
named  chapter,  verse  2 1 ,  the  penalty  of  this,  and 
other  unclean  acts,  is  specified:  '  'For  whosoever  shall 
commit  them,  shall  be  cut  off  from  among  My  people' ' 

And  again,  chapter  XX,  verse  18 :  1  'And  if  a  man 
shall  lie  with  a  woman,  having  her  sickness,  and 
shall  uncover  her  nakedness,  he  hath  discovered  her 
fountain,  and  she  hath  uncovered  the  fountain  of 
her  blood,  and  both  of  them  shall  be  cut  off  from 
among  My  people." 

It  has  been  held  in  detestation  by  all  nations,  and 
at  all  times.  D' Israeli,  in  the  Curiosities  of  Litera- 
ture, tells  a  rational  story,  in  which  the  Devil,  under 
the  form  of  Solomon,  is  discovered  in  Solomon's 


CAUSES  OF  FECUNDITY  AND  INFECUNDITY.  77 

harem,  by  the  exhibition  of  his  lust  at  this  partic- 
ular time;  and  the  Jewish  Talmud  expressly  declares 
coition  during  the  menses,  to  be  one  of  the  sins  for 
the  commission  of  which,  women  die  in  child-bed. 
The  anger  of  God  and  the  hatred  of  men  does  not, 
however,  wholly  exterminate  the  abominable  desire, 
and  wretches  are  in  existence  who  induce  their  wives 
to  submit  to  this  pollution,  destroying  all  delicacy 
of  mind,  and  expose  them  to  disease  in  some  of  the 
most  odious  forms.  In  woman  it  may  stop  the  natu- 
ral discharge,  which  is  replaced  by  one  called  leu- 
corrhcea,  or  whites,  a  very  troublesome  complaint, 
not  easy  to  get  rid  of,  and  which  generally  renders 
a  female  unprolific.  In  man,  this  base  indulgence 
may  cause  a  loathsome  disease,  so  like  gonorrhoea 
that  it  is  sometimes  difficult  to  distinguish  the  true 
from  the  false;  it  also  frequently  occasions  excoria- 
tions on  the  penis,  through  oversight,  nearly  resem- 
bling those  of  a  venereal  nature,  arising  from  con- 
nection with  an  abandoned  woman. 

These  excoriations  are  by  neglect  painful  and  te- 
dious of  cure,  and  may  be  followed  by  sympathetic 
bubo  and  various  other  evils,  which  may  also  be 
communicated  to  the  wife. 

The  disadvantages  arising  from  connection  with 
a  woman  who,  for  a  time,  is  declared  by  the  law  of 
God  to  be  unclean,  might  be  further  dwelt  upon,  but 
•it  is  needless,  as  a  man  of  sound  mind,  of  religious 
feelings,  of  cleanliness — in  short,  he  who  is  not 
worse  than  a  brute  beast,  will  not  debase  himself  and 
his  wife  by  being  guilty  of  so  disgusting  a  crime. 


78  CAUSES  OF  FECUNDITY  AND  INFECUNDITY 

With  those  who  are  more  debased  than  the  brute 
it  is  vain  to  reason;  it  is  vain  to  point  out  God's 
Holy  Law;  they  understand  it  not,  or  disregard  it 
for  the  sake  of  a  momentary  pleasure  degrading  to 
human  nature.  Such  men  are  not  to  be  restrained 
by  considerations  of  decency  or  religion;  let  them  be 
deterred  from  this  atrocity  by  the  consideration  ot 
physical  pain,  the  noxious  disease  to  which  they  ex- 
pose themselves,  and  which  they  may  communicate  to 
their  wives.  I  will  close  this  chapter  by  giving  such 
hygienic  and  moral  precepts  as  are  likely  to  be  the 
means  of  securing  a  healthy,  vigorous  and  intellec-' 
tual  offspring;  in  them  are  also  embodied  the  opin- 
ions of  the  celebrated  Hufeland. 

Marry  into  a  family  free  from  hereditary  disease, 
as  gout,  stone,  gravel,  herpes,  scrofula,  mania,  dis- 
eases of  the  skin. 

'  'Do  not  many  a  woman  of  a  peculiar  nervous  tem- 
perament, those  who  are  nervous,  epileptical,  hys- 
terical and  subject  to  convulsions  generally  give 
birth  to  short-lived  infants;"  this  is  Hufeland' s 
opinion.  I  have,  however,  often  known  nervous 
and  hysterical  women  cured  by  matrimony,  and  they 
have  borne  healthful  infants — this  precept  is  there- 
fore liable  to  exceptions. 

Do  not  marry  a  woman  advanced  in  life,  nor 
younger  than  eighteen  or  twenty;  a  man  should  not 
marry  until  he  is  four  or  five  and  twenty. 

Do  not  marry  delicate,  feeble  women,  and  if  you 
wish  your  children  to  live  long,  marry  into  a  family 
remarkaWe  for  longevity, 


CAUSES  OF  FECUNDITY  AND  INFECUNDITY.  79 

When  married — do  not  indulge  in  the  reproductive 
act  but  when  the  impulse  is  strong,  and  never  at- 
tempt it  during  intoxication;  if,  under  such  circum- 
stances, a  child  be  born,  it  would  probably  be  a  fool 
or  imbecile;  it  should  also  be  avoided  if  it  produces 
more  than  temporary  depression  of  spirits,  or  if  it 
much  affects  the  intellectual  or  physical  powers;  it 
must  also  be  wholly  abstained  from  during  the  pres- 
ence of  the  catamenia,  or  menses;  for  a  month  after 
child-birth,  and  be  seldom  and  cautiously  indulged 
in  during  pregnancy;  it  ought  not  to  be  performed 
for  two  hours  after  any  meal,  and  the  best  time  is 
undoubtedly  in  the  morning;  men  who  have  very 
much  corporal  or  mental  excitement  should  also  be 
moderate  in  this  indulgence,  or  they  will  most  like- 
ly suffer  ill  consequences.  Never  forget  that  a  preg- 
nant woman  is  to  be  considered  a  laboratory  in 
which  is  preparing  a  new  human  being,  to  which 
the  slightest  physical  and  moral  emotion  is  injuri- 
ous; and  on  this  latter  precept,  I  must  remark  that  this 
reflection  ought  to  secure  to  the  wife  the  most 
watchful  care  and  anxiety  of  the  husband  under 
such  circumstances.  Several  of  the  above  precepts 
require  the  attention  of  women  as  well  as  men. 


80 


ONANISM, 


Onanism  or  Self-Pollution. 


Masturbation,  the  Sin  of  Onan,  is  the  name  com- 
monly given  to  this  pernicious  habit,  which  may  be 
denned:  a  discharge  of  the  semen  by  the  stimulus  of 
the  virile  organ  with  the  hand;  the  habit,  it  is  said, 
of  the  solitary  monk  and  recluse,  as  well  as  of  the  in- 
considerate youth,  and  too  often  of  those  whose  riper 
years  should  prevent  their  guilty  indulgence  in  an  act 
so  revolting  to  humanity  and  so  destructive  to  every 
sentiment  and  feeling  of  vigorous  manhood.  If  we 
refer  to  the  opinions  expressed  by  the  most  celebra- 
ted physicians  among  the  ancients  or  moderns,  we 
find  a  remarkable  uniformity  in  their  opinions  on  this 
subject.  Celsus  remarks:  '  'These  habits  are  always 
hurtful,  and  indulgence  in  them  weakens  the  strong- 
est constitutions. ' '  Galen  gives  a  corresponding  ac- 
count of  the  evils  caused  by  this  vice.  The  late  Mr. 
Benjamin  Bell,  the  eminent  surgeon  of  Edinburgh, 
also,  in  reference  to  the  effects  of  this  indulgence, 
says:  "A  habit  so  baneful  to  many  of  our  youth, 
that  I  believe  it  to  be  more  destructive  in  its  effects 
than  a  greater  proportion  of  all  the  diseases  to  which 
in  early  life  they  are  liable."  Besides  rendering 
the  patient  himself  miserable,  it  evidently  entails 
the  severest  distress  upon  posterity  by  generating 
languor,  debility    and   disease,  instead  of  that 


ONANISM. 


81 


strength  ot  constitution,  without  which  there  can  oe 
no  enjoyment.  L,allemand  remarks:  '  'Our  lunatic 
asylums  afford  many  instances  of  insanity  produced 
by  this  detestable  practice. ' '  Nocturnal  pollutions, 
or  "wet  dreams,"  are  in  most  cases  brought  on  by 
Onanism.  After  a  short  period  has  elapsed,  the  noc- 
turnal are  now  conjoined  with  diurnal  pollutions; 
the  semen  passes  off  in  the  urine,  or  at  stool,  without 
sensation,  and  therefore  unmarked  by  the  patient. 

It  frequently  occurs,  as  a  result  of  self-pollution, 
more  especially  when  practiced  in  early  youth,  that 
the  testicles  do  not  attain  their  full  size  and  powers 
of  secreting  the  semen.  This  state  has  been  termed 
'  'an  arrest  of  development, ' '  a  phrase  which  simply 
means  that  the  organs  have  ceased  to  grow  at  a  per- 
iod of  life  previous  to  puberty.  We  have  seen  the 
case  of  a  gentleman,  aged  28,  whose  penis  and  tes- 
ticles were  not  larger  than  those  of  a  boy  ten  years 
old.  Other  cases  of  similar  character  have  also  pre- 
sented themselves  to  our  notice.  Such  instances  are 
not  beyond  the  influence  of  medicine,  unless  when 
they  occur  in  the  person  of  idiots.  Wasting  or  dim- 
inution in  the  size  and  powers  of  the  organs  may  oc- 
cur at  any  age.  The  testicle  may  retain  its  proper 
shape  though  diminished  in  size;  it  feels  soft  to  the 
touch,  and  loses  its  elasticity  and  firmness.  In  tex- 
ture it  is  pale,  and  the  blood  vessels  seem  diminished 
in  number,  the  spermatic  cord  becomes  affected  by 
the  disease,  the  nerves  shrink,  and  the  cremaster 
muscle  disappears.  The  thin  gelatinous  semen  which 
is  formed,  is  entirely  devoid  of  spermatic  granules  and 


82  ONANISM. 

spermaf  ozoa.  In  other  words,  its  fertilization  power 
is  lost,  and  impuissance  gradually  results.  When 
disease  is  the  cause  of  the  atrophy,  the  testicles  may 
alter  in  shape, — may  become  uneven  and  irregular 
—  sometimes  elongated  as  well  as  diminished  in  size 
and  weight.  There  is  one  form  of  disease  which  fre- 
quently precedes  che  decay  of  the  organs,  and  which 
is  seldom  observed  by  medical  men, — a  low  inflam- 
mation, quite  painless,  acts  upon  the  testicles  and 
gradually  increases  the  bulk,  at  the  same  time  dim- 
inishing the  firmness  and  consistency;  in  some  in- 
stances the  testicles  almost  feel  as  if  dividing.  On  in- 
quiring into  the  origin  of  the  cases,  we  frequently 
find  that  a  swelled  testicle,  hernia  humoralis,  has  ex- 
isted, caused  by  gonorrhoea.  Hence  the  necessity  of 
curing  urethral  discharges  as  rapidly  as  possible, and 
the  care  required  in  the  use  of  astringent  injections. 
Injuries  of  the  head,  or  more  especially  the  back  part 
of  the  head,  have  been  known  to  produce  decay  of 
the  testicles,  and  this  fact  may  tend  to  support  the 
theory  of  the  phrenologists,  that  the  seat  of  amatory 
passions  is  in  the  cerebellum.  Doubtless  the  brain 
exercises  great  influence  on  the  desire  for  sexual  in- 
tercourse, and  it  is  equally  certain  that  there  is  a  re< 
ciprocal  action  of  the  generative  organs  upon  the 
brain.  Such  is  the  similarity  of  structure  of  the 
brain  and  testicles,  and  so  great  the  sympathy  be- 
tween them,  that  an  extensive  experience  during 
many  years  has  proved  that  in  some  instances  a  spec- 
ies of  derangement  is  caused  by  diseases  of  the  genera* 
tiye  organs.  It  is  chiefly  on  the  youth  of  both  sexes 


ONANISM.  83 

that  self-pollution  commits  most  ravages.  This  is 
so  much  more  to  be  deplored,  as  it  thus  strikes  at 
the  very  root  of  society,  and  has  a  direct  and  imme- 
diate tendency  to  destroy  it,  by  enervating  and  debil- 
itating, almost  from  the  very  cradle,  those  whom 
nature's  God  intended  as  the  best  adapted  to  preserve 
and  adorn  it.  How  many  of  the  debilitated  and  ema- 
ciated objects  daily  present  themselves  to  our  view, 
with  pallid  and  haggard  countenances  and  sunken 
eyes,  who  are  indebted  solely  to  the  abominable 
practice  of  masturbation  for  this  state  of  debility  and 
exhaustion  ?  Disabled  from  rendering  service  either 
to  themselves  or  friends,  they  drag  on  a  life  totally 
useless  to  others  and  a  burden  to  themselves,  in  the 
midst  of  society  in  which  they  are  despised.  A  fre- 
quent cause  of  the  practice  of  Onanism  is  ignor- 
ance of  the  enormity  of  the  crime, — a  crime  of  which 
an  eminent  divine  has  written: — '  'In  itself  it  is  mon- 
strous and  unnatural, — in  its  practice,  filthy  and 
odious  to  extremity, — its  guilt  is  crying,  and  its 
consequence  ruinous, — it  destroys  all  conjugal  affec- 
tion,— prevents  natural  inclination, — and  tends  to 
extinguish  the  hopes  of  posterity." 

The  most  experienced  medical  practitioners  are  of 
the  opinion  that  the  development  of  the  nervous  sys- 
tem, and  the  predominance  of  its  action  over  parts  of 
the  organism,  are  also  amongst  the  causes  of  mastur- 
bation.  We  comparatively  seldom  see  this  habit  in- 
dulged  in  by  robust  and  vigorous  persons,  whose 
muscular  and  digestive  organs  are  in  full  develop- 
ment; they  are  generally  more  disposed  to  exercise 


84  ONANISM. 

their  limbs,  as  well  as  their  appetite  for  the  pleas- 
ures of  the  table,  in  which  their  minds  are  too  much 
engaged  to  allow  them  to  addict  themselves  to  indul- 
gence in  other  gratifications.  This  excessive  develop- 
ment of  nervous  sensibility,  which  is  the  source  of 
so  many  praiseworthy  actions,  as  well  as  of  so  many 
vicious  enormities,  and  which,  according  to  the  direc- 
tion it  receives,  gives  rise  to  the  most  splendid  or  to 
the  basest  of  results,  may  be  derived  either  from 
natural  disposition  or  from  early  education.  It  is 
immediately  after  early  infancy,  at  that  epoch  when 
the  tacuties  of  the  new  being  commence  to  be  devel- 
oped with  energy,  that  he  runs  the  greatest  danger. 
If  then  an  unfortunate  accident,  or,  as  too  trequently 
happens,  the  indelicate  touches  of  strange  hands, 
disclose  to  the  young  subject  what  may  at  this  time 
be  considered  a  new  sense,  there  takes  place  at  this 
period  toward  the  genital  organs  a  greater  or  less  con- 
centration of  the  vital  forces,  and  the  patient,  led  on 
by  the  delusive  pleasure,  gives  himself  up  with  a  fury 
to  a  vice  which  is  soon  sure  to  destroy  him,  or  draw 
down  on  him  evils  more  terrible  than  death  itself. 
Another  most  dangerous  period  of  life  is  the  approach 
of  puberty,  which  varies  in  this  climate  from  the  age 
of  eighteen  to  twenty-two.  The  rapid  growth  of  the 
generative  organs, — the  increased  power  and  fre- 
quency of  erection, — the  rapid  secretion  of  semen, — 
all  lead  to  the  performance  of  that  act  which  is  sure 
to  occasion  the  deepest  remorse.  It  is  the  attentive 
consideration  of  these  varied  facts  which  explains  to 
vus  how  the  habitual  exercise  of  the  genital  organs, 


ONANISM.  85 

either  by  coition  or  masturbation,  may  so  far  get  the 
better  of  the  will  of  the  individual  as  to  force  him  to 
indulge  in  practices,  the  object  of  which  is  to  gratify 
the  venereal  stimulus.  In  almost  all  such  cases  the 
shameful  act,  when  finished,  is  in varibly  followed  by 
bitter  regret;  but  as  the  organs  obtain  repose,  the 
resolutions  which  he  has  adopted  of  relinquishing 
the  baneful  practice,  and  which  he  had  thought  noth- 
ing could  shake,  are  soon  forgotten.  We  have  fre- 
quently heard  patients  exclaim,  "Oh!  how  often  and 
often  have  I  solemnly  sworn  never  again  to  pollute 
myself;  and  how  often  have  I  promised  myself,  when 
in  the  act,  that  it  should  be  for  the  last  time. ' ' 

If  we  compare  the  injurious  effects  of  excessive  in- 
dulgence in  coition  and  those  of  masturbation,  we 
shall  find  that  the  causes  which  combine  to  render 
excess  in  the  former  dangerous,  act  with  much  more 
energy  in  the  second,  and  that  several  circumstances 
peculiar  to  the  latter  render  the  results  of  its  fre- 
quent repetition  more  serious.  It  is  well  known  that 
the  man  who  addicts  himself  to  the  solitary  and  de- 
basing  practice  of  Onanism  is  kept  for  a  considera- 
ble time  in  a  state  of  general  and  permanent  rigidity 
of  the  entire  body;  this  state  of  tension  is  sometimes 
carried  so  far  that  very  painful  cramps  are  caused 
by  it,  and  the  fatigue  which  results  obliges  the  pa- 
tient to  relax  his  efforts  occasionally  to  take  rest. 
It  is  sufficient  to  observe  the  circumstances  which 
accompany  masturbation  to  see  that  the  nervous 
system  must  be  directly  affected  by  it,  not  only 
from  the  violent  and  continued  contractions  which  it 


86 


ONANISM. 


occasions  throughout  the  entire  muscular  system, 
but  also  by  the  prodigious  tension  of  the  imagina- 
tion, which  is  in  cases  wound  up  to  the  highest  state, 
in  order  to  represent  to  the  devoted  votaries  of  self- 
pollution  the  fantastical  object  of  their  disgusting 
transports.  Another  cause  which  renders  Onanism 
more  dangerous  than  excessive  indulgence  in  coition, 
arises  from  the  circumstance  that  it  is  much  easier 
to  addict  one's  self  to  the  one  than  abuse  the  other; 
for  when  a  man  gives  himself  up  to  the  natural  pleas- 
ures of  love,  the  fatigue  felt,  as  well  by  his  compan- 
ions as  by  himself,  will  have  the  effect  of  preventing 
his  exhaustion;  whilst  on  the  other  hand  there  is  no 
bridle,  no  restraint  on  him  who  practices  self-abuse; 
the  former  is  generally  obliged  to  wait  for  a  favora- 
ble moment  and  opportunity  to  indulge  in  his  ex- 
cess,— every  moment  answers  the  purpose  of  the  lat- 
ter,— all  he  requires  is  mere  solitude.  He  constant- 
ly carries  about  him  the  sting  which  torments  him; 
he  alternately  finds  his  imagination  exciting  his  or- 
gans, and  his  organs  inflaming  his  imagination. 
In  short,  there  is  nothing  to  distract  or  take  up  the 
attention  of  one  who  has  addicted  himself  to  Onan- 
ism, whilst  a  thousand  circumstances  are  constantly 
distracting  the  attention  of  the  man  who  is  disposed 
for  the  enjoyment  of  a  female.  Another  serious 
danger  in  this  vice  is  the  period  of  life  when  men 
addict  themselves  to  it;  we  have  occasionally  met 
with  it  in  quite  young  children,  most  frequently 
amongst  full-grown  boys  and  young  men;  for 
the  various   difficulties  and  impediments  which 


ONANISM.  87 

prevent  copulation  before  a  certain  age  do  not  exist 
in  the  case  of  Onanism;— thus  the  generative  propen- 
sity, called  forth  prematurely  and  gratified  viciously, 
steps  in  amidst  all  the  natural  efforts  of  growth,  with 
its  unnatural  train  of  moral  excitations,  sensual 
shocks  and  physical  pollutions.  No  wonder  that  the 
Father  of  Medicine  should  notice  its  effects;  J&ti us 
gives  the  following  description:-'  'young  people  have 
the  air  and  appearance  of  old  age;  they  become  pale, 
effeminate,  lazy, benumbed, stupid  and  imbecile;  they 
have  a  total  distaste  for  every  thing,  are  totally  inca- 
pacitated and  may  even  become  paralytic. ' '  In  short, 
when  we  look  upon  the  horrible  consequences  result- 
ing from  this  practice,  are  we  not  justified  in  regard- 
ing it  as  a  lingering,  moral  and  physical  suicide? 

As  we  have  intimated,  the  practice  of  Onanism, 
when  once  indulged  in,  is  difficult  to  abandon;  the 
patient  is  perhaps  for  years  unconsciousof  any  change 
and  no  one  part  of  the  body  feels  weakened  more 
than  another;  but  there  gradually  comes  over  all  a 
creeping  languor,  a_ want  of  energy,  a  sensation  of  las- 
situde, a  depression  of  spirits,  ennui,  and  a  disinclina- 
tion for  society;  these  feelings  at  length  increase  so 
as  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  patient  and  his 
friends.  He  and  they  are  sensible  that  he  is  not  what 
he  formerly  was;  his  face  becomes  pallid;  the  circles 
around  his  eyes  depressed  and  darkened,  a  thinness 
is  visible  in  his  looks,  his  hands  are  frequently  cold 
and  clammy, he  cannot  bear  the  cold  he  was  wont  to 
do,  his  old  pursuits  have  no  attractions  for  him,  nor 
do  any  new  ones  attract  his  attention;  his  memory 


88  ONANISM. 

becomes  imperfect,  his  vision  not  so  clear  nor  his  sight 
so  strong  as  formerly,  morbid  sensations  annoy  him; 
at  length  he  sinks  into  fatuity,  and  either  is  carried  off 
by  some  rapid  decline  or  hastens  his  end  by  laying  vi- 
olent hands  on  himself.  Such  is  the  history  of  many 
cases  of  suicide  of  which  we  read  in  the  newspapers. 

Thanks  to  the  exertions  of  Medical  Science,  aided 
by  the  researches  of  many  skillful  physicians,  who 
have  devoted  their  lives  to  the  investigation  of  these 
diseases;  thanks  to  the  important  discoveries  in 
chemistry,  and  to  the  light  thrown  on  the  cause  of 
disease  by  the  use  of  the  microscope,  we  have  not  of- 
ten presented  to  us  cases  so  desperate  as  the  above. 

It  is  difficult  to  depict  a  more  truly  miserable  being 
than  the  slave  to  licentiousness.  His  imagination 
burning  with  filthy,  unnatural  glow;  his  bodily  or- 
gans, taxed  to  the  utmost, weary  and  jaded,  refuse  to 
obey  the  stimulus  of  that  never  slumbering  depravity 
which  goads  his  fancy  in  the  darkness  of  night,  in  the 
dreams  of  his  broken  rest,  and  in  the  worse  than 
dreamy  abstractions  of  the  cheerless  day;  he  is  tor- 
mented with  desires  he  can  never  gratify,  shut  out 
from  those  enjoyments  accorded  only  to  virtuous 
moderation;  the  blossoms  of  youth  [perhaps  the 
flower  of  manhood],  the  supremacy  of  mind,  all  de- 
graded, obliterated,  gone!  I^et  not  the  intensely  pru- 
rient, yet  seemingly  modest,  victim  of  self-pollution 
lay  the  flattering  unction  to  his  soul,  that  from  the 
eye  of  his  fellow  mortals  he  can  conceal  his  unmanly 
practices.  It  is  written  upon  his  forehead;  the  phys- 
iognomy, that  faithful  mirror  of  the  soul  and  body, 


ONANISM.  8i» 

gives  clear  indication  of  the  internal  disorder.  The 
complexion  and  plumpness  which  jointly  confer  a 
youthful  look,  and  which  is  the  sole  substitute  for 
beauty — for  without  this  even  beauty  produces  no " 
other  effect  than  cold  admiration; — this  complexion 
and  plumpness  are  the  things  that  first  disappear,  a 
leanness  succeeds;  the  skin  becomes  rough,  often  of 
leaden  tinge;  the  eyes  loose  their  brilliancy,  and  by 
their  languor  express  that  of  the  whole  frame;  the 
lips  loose  their  vermillion  hue,  the  teeth  their  white- 
ness, the  hair  falls  off,  and  it  is  no  uncommon  thing 
for  the  whole  body  to  become  bent  and  distorted. 
Abashed,  the  sufferer  shrinks  from  the  gaze  of  his 
fellow-man,  fancying  suspicion  in  the  eye  of  every 
one  who  looks  upon  his  sunken,  haggard,  pale,  un- 
meaning, inexpressive  face;  his  dull,  lack-lustre  eye; 
his  thin  and  tremulous  form — which  all  betray  him  to 
the  practical  observer.  For  Self-pollution  en- 
tails UPON  ITS  VICTIMS  MARKS  AS  LEGIBLE  TO  THE 
EYE  THAT  CAN  UNDERSTAND  THEM,  AS  THE  SCARS 

OF  small- pox;  and  this  proves  a  striking  fulfil- 
ment of  the  prophetic  warning, — "There  is  nothing 
done  in  secret  that  shall  not  be  revealed. , ' '  nor  hid- 
den, even  from  the  recognition  of  mortals,  that  shall 
not  ultimately  be  made,  even  to  them,  evident  as 
noonday.  Shall  we  not  therefore  raise  our  testimony 
against  these  vices?  Sir  Astley  Cooper  justly  re- 
marks in  one  of  his  lectures:— "If  one  of  these  mis- 
erable cases  could  be  depicted  from  the  pulpit  as  an 
illustration  of  the  bad  effects  of  a  vicious  and  intem- 
perate course  of  life,  it  would,  I  think,  strike  the 


96  ONANISM. 

mind  with  more  terror  than  all  the  preaching  in 
the  world.  The  irritable  state  of  the  patient  leads 
to  the  destruction  of  life,  and  in  this  way  annually 
great  numbers  perish.  Undoubtedly  the  list  is 
considerably  augmented  by  maltreatment,  and  the 
employment  of  injudicious  remedies."  And  the 
late  learned  Dr.  Pereira,  whose  abilities  as  a  practi- 
cal physician  were  only  equalled  by  his  acquired 
learning  and  innate  knowledge  of  human  nature,  ob- 
serves, in  reviewing  "Nervous  Exhaustion," — 
"There  is  a  vast  deal  of  injury  done,  not  merely  to 
public  morals,  but  to  the  individual  health,  by  the 
abuses  and  excesses  of  the  reproductive  functions;  the 
primitive  fathers  and  physicians  have  duly  noticed  the 
evils  to  which  I  allude,  and  every  experienced  medical 
practitioner  can  attest  their  frequent  occurrence.  It 
is  all  very  well  for  sentimentalists  and  the  mock- 
modest  to  declaim  about  the  notice  of  them;  but  just- 
ice, morality,  and  the  preservation  of  health,  as  well 
as  the  perpetuation  of  the  human  race,  demand  it. 
Such,  however,  is  the  hypocrisy  of  the  day,  that  even 
a  notice  in  a  dead  language  is  abused  and  condemn- 
ed by  the  ignorant  and  intolerant,  who  are  unable  to 
appreciate  the  importance  of  the  subject.  This  is  a 
bold  step  in  the  right  direction." 

Nor  are  the  evils  of  self  pollution  confined  to  the 
male  sex  only.  That  it  rages  with  deadly  virulence 
amongst  young  women,  especially  amongst  young 
ladies  in  the  higher  circles  of  society,  is  a  matter  of 
notoriety.  Dr.  Fowler  writes  that,  "women,  young, 
and  apparently  modest,  are  dying  by  thousands  of 


ONANISM. 


91 


consumption,  of  female  complaints,  of  nervous  or 
spinal  complaints,  of  general  debility,  and  of  other 
ostensible  complaints  innumerable,  and  of  some  of 
insanity,  caused  solely  by  this  practice." 

The  effect  of  self-pollution  in  the  male  is  similar 
in  the  female;  the  results  common  to  both  are  impo- 
tency  in  the  one  and  sterility  or  barrenness  in  the 
other.  We  observe  amongst  them  much  tendency  to 
hysterical  complaints.  Consumption  numbers  among 
its  victims  young  and  fair,  who  have  first  brought  on 
its  seed  by  self-abuse.  The  glairy  discharge,  so  com- 
mon and  so  weakening,  and  which  is  generally  termed 
the  ' '  Whites, ' '  is  another  frequent  result  of  this  error. 
We  do  not  mean  to  assert  that  in  every  instance  this 
discharge  is  thus  caused.  I  have  known  many  in- 
stances where  it  has  been  caused  by  excessive  in- 
tercourse with  the  husband;  but  when  it  occurs 
amongst  unmarried  women  of  a  certain  age,  self-pol- 
lution, though  not  the  invariable  cause,  is  one  of  the 
most  prominent  predisposing.  But  enough  on  this 
very  painful  subject — we  probe  the  wound  deeply 
that  we  may  sooner  heal  it.  Should  this  fall  into  the 
hands  of  one  who  has  sinned,  let  her  remember  that 
science  and  skill  may  do  much  to  restore  her  to 
health  and  happiness. — let  her  repent,  and  pray  that 
'  'she  sin  no  more. ' ' 

Many  individuals  scarcely  turned  forty  years  of 
age,  and  sometimes  even  earlier,  who  have  lived 
rather  freely,  are  not  unfrequently  about  that  period 
of  life  greatly  changed  in  their  powers  of  sexual  inter- 
course.   They  may,  indeed,  in  general  health  and 


92 


ONANISM. 


personal  appearance,  be  stout,  and  for  several  years 
not  very  sensible  of  the  degeneration  of  their  powers; 
but  the  frequency  of  their  inclination  for  such  du- 
ties gradually  becomes  much  diminished,  and  that 
is  a  symptom  which  is  at  all  times  indicative  of  ap 
proaching  impotence;  for  the  inclination,  gradually 
and  entirely  ceasing,  the  power  speedily  follows,  or 
rather  both  are  lost  together. 

Many  who  have  unwarily  acquired  the  habit  of 
self-pollution,  have  been  convinced,  by  reading  this 
treatise,  of  its  iniquity  and  injurious  consequences  to 
health,  and  have  determined  to  give  it  up,  thinking 
that  by  so  doing  they  may  recover  their  prestine 
health  and  vigor.  In  this,  however  they  are  deceived. 
A  new  and  unnatural  association  having  been  estab- 
lished between  the  organs  of  generation  and  the 
mind,  the  bad  consequences  of  the  practice  do  not 
cease  when  the  habit  is  left  off.  Involuntary  dis- 
charges of  semen  take  place  during  sleep,  occasion- 
ally occurring  as  frequently  as  two  or  three  times  in 
the  course  of  one  night.  The  effect  of  these  emis- 
sions is  extremely  debilitating;  all  the  symptoms  al- 
ready described  are  aggravated  and  the  mind  sinks 
into  a  state  of  deepest  dejection.  Here  there  is  no 
time  to  lose;  they  should  immediately  apply  for 
the  necessary  medicines,  and  the  practice  being  dis- 
continued (certainly  a  main  point  in  the  case)  they 
may  confidently  anticipate  the  speedy  renova- 
tion of  their  constitution.  I  therefore  recommend 
an  early  application  for  advice  and  assistance,  which 
in  every  case  will  be  given  with  kind  consideration 
and  undeviating  attention  that  will  give  confidence 
to  the  timid  and  restore  vigor  to  the  debilitated. 


NOCTURNAL  EMISSIONS. 


93 


Ot    Nocturnal    Emissions,  Seminal 
^eakness,   Impotency,  Nervous 
Debility. 

The  secretory  glands  of  the  human  body  form  an 
apparatus,  the  action  of  which  is  unvarying  and  con- 
stant. The  liver  is  perpetually  employed  in  the  for- 
mation of  bile;  the  kidneys,  in  the  separation  of 
urine  from  the  blood.  In  fact  all  the  secretions  are 
derivable  from  the  living  and  vitalizing  fluid.  The 
gall-bladder  is  provided  as  the  temporary  receptacle 
for  the  bilious,  soapy  fluid  secreted  by  the  liver;  and 
as  the  wants  of  the  system  require,  it  is  poured  into 
the  first  intestine  to  assist  in  the  separation  of  the 
nutritive  portion  of  the  partially  digested  aliment. 
Precisely  analogous  is  the  action  of  the  testicles, 
pouring  their  appropriate  secretion  into  the  recep- 
tacle denominated  the  "vesicals  seminales,"  or  seed- 
bladders,  not  to  be  absorbed  again  into  the  system, 
but  rather  to  be  excreted  as  indispensable  to  the  re- 
productive act.  Hence  the  stimulus  arising  from  dis- 
tention of  these  vessels  becomes  a  pleasurable  impulse 
of  the  necessary  multiplication  of  the  species;  and 
if  sexual  desire  were  susceptible  of  gratification 
^nly  as  the  result  of  instinct;  if  depraved  man, 
instead  of  lashing  his  genital  organs  to  exertion  by 

1thy  conversation,  lewd  and  impure  imaginations, 


94  NOCTURNAL  EMISSIONS. 

and  the  various  causes  which  are  entirely  absent 
among  the  brute  creation;  if,  like  them,  he  were  con- 
tent to  follow  the  dictates  of  his  unerring  organiza- 
tion, diseases  arising  from  excess  would  be  unknown, 
equally  among  us  as  with  them ;  and  their  proverbial, 
and  almost  certain  fecundity  be  but  the  transcript  of 
our  own.  As  the  seminal  vessels  (like  the  gall-blad- 
ier)  will  not  allow  of  extraordinary  distention,  the 
thinner  portions  of  the  semen  become  partially  ab- 
sorbed; and  though  thereby  the  bulk  of  that  secre- 
tion be  lessened,  yet  the  residum  becoming  more  acrid 
and  stimulating,  the  impulse  to  excretion  is  thus 
rendered  unconquerable,  and  so  nature, in  the  absence 
of  the  act  to  which  the  stimulating  impulse  tends, 
occasionally  relieves  herself  of  the  superabundant 
secretion.  Of  this  act  men  are  mostly  unconscious, 
if,  however,  it  arrests  attention,  its  frequency  and  its 
consequences  are  the  circumstances  that  rouse  the 
proper  and  natural  fears  of  the  sufferer. 

A  popular  author  on  this  subject  observed — "the 
causes  of  these  nightly  or  lwet  dreams'  as  they  are 
called,  are  numerous.  In  the  first  place  the  testicles 
must  have  acquired,  through  the  practice  of  Onan-. 
ism — for  involuntary  emissions  rarely  assume  the 
formidable  character  here  depicted,  except  induced 
by  masturbation — a  morbid  sensitiveness,  that,  on 
the  slightest  local  or  neighboring  irritation,  they  put 
in  action  their  secretive  powers.  In  fact  the  infirm* 
ity  might  not  inaptly  be  termed  a  consumption  of  those 
glands.  Consequently,  the  cause  may  be,  at  this 
period,  piles  or  hcemorrhoids,  constipation,  indices- 


NOCTURNAL  EMISSIONS.  95 

tion,  irritability  of  the  bladder  or  kidneys,  etc.,  etc.. 
for  they  all,  more  or  less,  are  present  and  perhaps, 

severely  aggravated  by  stimuli,  of  one  kind  or  other, 
taken  during  the  day  or  previously  to  rest.  Another 
occasion  may  be  the  loss  of  tone  of  the  absorbents, 
and  also  loss  of  sensibility  of  the  passages  through 
which  the  discharge  escapes; thereby  acting  as  somno- 
lent sentinels  only  to  the  brain,  whereby  even  the  lit- 
tle control  the  will  might  possess  is  lost. ' '  So  by  thi£ 
we  perceive  that  this  infirmity  is  not  merely  local  de- 
bility  of  the  generative  apparatus,  but  that  many  othef 
functions  of  life  participate  in  it.  The  constant  drain 
from  the  testicles  impoverishes  the  whole  system, 
and  the  same  phenomena  ensue  as  when  Onanism  is 
practiced  to  the  same  extent.  The  semen  of  a  person 
tormented  with  this  infirmity  is  thin,  watery,  sickly 
odored,  and  rarely  prolific.  Although  I  have  al' 
ready  depicted  the  consequences  of  unnatural  indul- 
gence in  the  previous  pages,  the  following  passage 
from  a  more  able  pen  than  my  own  exhibits  so  well 
the  desolating  effects  alluded  to,  that  its  transcript 
is  too  useful  to  my  purpose  to  neglect: — "The  mus- 
cles of  the  youth  become  soft;  he  is  idle;  his  body 
becomes  bent;  his  gait  is  sluggish  and  he  is  scarce- 
ly able  to  support  himself.  The  digestion  becomes 
enfeebled,  the  breath  fetid;  the  intestines  inactive, 
the  excrements  hardened  in  the  rectum,  and  pro- 
ducing additional  irritation  of  the  seminal  conduits 
in  its  vicinity.  The  circulation  being  no  longer 
free,  the  youth  sighs  often,  the  complexion  is  livid, 
and  the  skin,  on  the  forehead  especially  is  studded 


NOCTURNAL  EMISSIONS. 


with  pimples.  'The  corners  of  the  mouth  are  length- 
ened, the  nose  becomes  sharp,  the  sunken  eyes  de- 
prived of  brilliancy,  and  enclosed  in  blue  circles,  are 
cast  down;  no  look  of  gayety  remains, — the  very  as- 
pect is  criminal.  General  sensibility  becomes  ex- 
cessive, producing  tears  without  a  cause;  perception 
is  weakened  and  memory  almost  destroyed;  distrac- 
tion or  absence  of  mind,  renders  the  judgment  unfit 
for  any  operation  The  imagination  gives  birth  only 
to  fantastics  and  fears  without  ground;  the  slightest 
allusion  to  the  prenorainating  passion  produces  a 
motion  of  the  muscles  of  the  face,  the  flush  of  shame 
or  a  state  of  despair.  The  wretched  being  finishes 
by  shunning  the  face  of  man  and  dreading  the  ob- 
servation of  woman.  His  character  is  entirely  cor- 
rupted, or  his  mind  is  totally  stupefied.  Involun- 
tary loss  of  the  reproductive  liquid  takes  place  dur- 
ing the  night,  and  also  during  the  daily  motions; 
and  there  ensues  a  total  exhaustion,  bringing  on 
heaviness  of  the  head,  singing  in  the  ears,  and  fre- 
quent faintings,  together  with  pains,  convulsive 
trembling  and  partial  paralysis." 

The  reproductive  power  may  not  be  entirely  destt  oy- 
ed  by  that  state  of  generative  debility  which  is  engen- 
dered by  nocturnal  emissions,  and  yet  very  painful 
consequences  of  another  character  may  unquestion- 
ably arise.  A  healthy  female  may  become  pregnant, 
from  the  feeble  yet  exhausting  effort  of  a  man  whose 
constitutional  power  is  seriously  broken, yet  it  would 
be  unfair, unphilosophical, unsupported  by  any  analo- 
gy drawn  from  the  history  of  the  lower  animals,  to  ex- 


SEMINAL  WEAKNESS.  97 

pect  that  this  circumstance  would  not  tell  most  pow- 
erfully and  detrimentally  upon  the  offspring.  The 
opinions  of  the  learned,  in  all  ages,  have  not  varied 
widely  on  this  subject.    Lucretius,  and  a  great  num- 
ber of  ancient  physiologists,  admitted  this  doctrine. 
That  a  great  many  considered  that  there  was  a  mix- 
ture of  fluids,  and  that  these,  united  in  the  sexual 
organs  of  the  female,  were  animated,  developed  and 
changed  into  a  being  resembling  those  who  furnished 
them.  Farther,  that  the  most  vigorous  of  the  two  de- 
termined the  sex;  and  if  this  principle  be  admitted, 
it  is  easy  to  trace  every  puny  or  diseased  peculiarity 
the  father  or  mother  may  transmit.    It  appears  to 
be  the  general  opinion  that  whichever  parent  fur- 
nishes the  most  elaborate,  the  most  abundant  semi- 
nal fluid,  would  impress  the  lineaments  and  form 
upon  the  offspring;  that  the  most  vigorous  parent 
would  possess  the  most  genital  power,  would  deter- 
mine the  sex  and  physical  character  of  the  infant; 
and  consequently  that  the  offspring  would  most  cer- 
tainly resemble  this  parent  both  in  mind  and  body. 
If  genital  power  be  equal,  the  child  may  be  ex- 
pected to  resemble  both.    But  this  can  scarcely  be 
expected,  where  there  is  debility  of  the  generative 
organs  in  either  parent,  and  the  elaboration  of  im- 
perfect fluids,  from  their  too  frequent  escape. 

OF  SEMINAL  WEAKNESS, 

The  prominent  character  of  Seminal  Weakness  is 
general  not  partial \  debility.  The  seminal  vessels 
are  fitted  to  perform  certain  functions  with  progress- 
ive regularity,  which,  if  undisturbed  by  disease,  or 


98  SEMIIv  h  WEAKNESS, 

unimpaired  by  vicious  perversion  of  the  natural  sex- 
ual habit,  they  will  continue  to  execute  through  the 
whole  range  of  active  manhood.  Sexual  ability  in 
man  is  a  mysteriously  compound  power,  requiring  a 
perfect  association  \n  the  action  of  the  secretory  or- 
gans of  the  seminal  secretion  and  the  instrument  of 
its  ejaculation  and  discharge.  Any  functional  ir- 
regularity or  want  of  correspondency  between  the 
action  of  the  testicles  and  the  penis  is  therefore  an 
unquestionable  state  of  disease;  for  since  both  are 
so  closely  and  intimately  dependent  on  each  other, 
the  least  want  of  exactness  in  their  adaption  might 
be  the  cause  of  Impotency.  Whatever  be  the  mode 
in  which  this  deviation  from  the  healthy  and  natu- 
ral action  of  the  parts  is  first  induced,  it  is  not  diffi- 
cult to  trace  its  inevitable  effect  in  the  production 
of  Seminal  Debility  and  the  ultimate  destruction  of 
sexual  power.  Irritation,  however  engendered,  rap- 
idly propagates  itself  along  the  urethra;  and  chronic 
inflammation  of  the  prostatic  and  most  sensitive 
portion  of  that  canal  is  rapidly  established,  and  the 
muscles  surrounding  the  membraneous  division  of 
the  urinary  passage  are  sympathetically  affected 
with  irregular  spasm.  The  irritation  extends  itself 
by  continuity  of  surface  to  the  seminal  vesicles,  and 
even  to  the  testicles,  producing  in  the  former  unnat- 
ural evacuations,  and  in  the  latter  an  exaggerated 
thin  secretion,  too  rapidly  elaborated,  and  therefore, 
for  all  the  purposes  of  generation,  worthless. 

Among  individuals  so  affected,  on  attempting  in- 
tercourse with  the  sex,  the  emission  is  too  quickly  dis- 


SEMINAL  WEAKNESS  9» 

charged,  nocturnal  pollutions  are  frequent — indeed 
these  are  often  the  immediate  precursors  of  seminal 
weakness — or  the  seme?i  is  expelled  du>i?ig  the  evacu- 
ation of  the  bladder  and  bowels.  With  some,  there 
is  more  or  less  complete  extinction  of  the  venereal 
desire,  the  erections  become  few  and  feeble,  incom- 
plete, or  absolutely  impossible.  This  condition  of 
the  sexual  organs  has  its  appropriate  general  charac- 
ter, analogous  to  those  which  are  attributable  to  the 
wilful  and  determinate  pollutions  of  earlier  youth; 
the  sufferer,  now  perhaps  too  late,  sensibly  alive  to 
the  origin  of  his  weakness,  becomes  timid,  fearful, 
careless  of  the  world  around  him,  his  mind  absorbed 
in  the  consideration  of  his  malady,  until  the  contin- 
ual presence  and  the  recurrence  of  the  same  train  of 
painful  thought  involve  him  in  the  worst  form  of 
monomania,  or  rather  the  premature  childishness  of 
old  age.  All  the  functions  of  the  body  languish  and 
are  deranged,  until  a  complete  and  general  degrada- 
tion sweeps  with  uncontrolled  dominion  over  every 
power  and  faculty  both  of  body  and  soul.  The  semi* 
nal  fluid  may  dribble  away  without  pleasure,  without 
erections,  without  the  natural  ejaculations,  aud  its 
loss,  when  occurring  in  this  manner,  gives  rise  ta 
the  same  or  indefinitely  greater  evils  than  those 
which  occur  from  mere  sexual  excess,  or  what  is 
worse,  from  self-pollution. 

The  term  Impotence  is  applied  as  relative  to  that 
inability  or  incapacity  of  the  performance  of  the 
sexual  act,  which  may  arise  from  a  variety  of  causes, 
but  from  none  so  frequently  as  the  excesses  of  Sen- 


SEMINAL  WEAKNESS. 


sualism,  more  especially  the  secret,  vicious,  and  soli- 
tary indulgence  of  self-pollution.  It  is  important, 
in  a  practical  point  of  view,  that  we  do  not  confound 
this  condition  of  the  generative  system  with  Steril- 
ity, inasmuch  as  a  male  who  is  sterile,  or  a  barren 
female,  may  possess  a  perfect  aptitude  for  coition, 
though  for  all  the  purposes  of  procreation  absolutely 
incapable.  In  Impotence  there  is  a  temporary  or 
permanent  destruction  of  those  powers  which  are 
absolutely  essential  for  generative  purposes.  Sterility 
may  therefore  be  defined  as  inability  to  propagate  the 
species,  without  affecting  the  sexual  congress;  while 
Impotency  in  either  sex,  whether  natural  or  acquired, 
whether  as  the  result  of  disease  or  malformation, 
entirely  precludes  its  performance.  Impotence,  re- 
sulting from  physical  imperfection  of  the  sexual 
organs,  is  mostly  incurable;  but  when  originating 
in  such  disorders  of  the  urinary  or  genital  apparatus 
as  are  tracable  to  irritation  or  inflammation  of  those 
structures,  or  to  conditions  however  produced,  thence 
resulting,  such  as  thickening  of  the  bladder,  enlarge- 
ment of  the  prostrate  gland  or  testicles,  wasting  of 
the  penis,  especially  long-continued  gleets  and  stric- 
tures, our  first  efforts  are  naturally  directed  to  the 
removal  of  those  proximate  causes  of  Impotence;  and 
if  the  habit  be  still  indulged,  the  baneful  ultimate, 
or  primary  cause  of  so  severe  a  deprivation.  If, 
under  those  circumstances,  Nature  does  not  readily 
resume  her  wonted  functions,  if  there  be  remain- 
ing debility,  it  is  necessary  to  invigorate  the  frame 
by  the  employment,  not  merely  of  those  diffusible 


&EMINAL  WEAKNESS.  101 

stimuli  which  act  generally  upon  the  whole  system, 
but  by  the  administration  of  those  remedies  which 
are  known  to  act  immediately  upon  the  generative 
organs.  If  there  be  present  excessive  irritability,  it 
is  necessary  to  employ  such  remedies  as  tend  to  di- 
minish irritation  in  the  morbidly  sensitive  organs. 

Impotence  in  the  male  may  arise  from  a  wide  di- 
versity of  conditions.  Incapacity  of  erection,  gener- 
ally referable  to  self-pollution;  Impotence,  arising 
from  a  want  of  power  of  retention  in  the  seminal 
vessels,  induced  by  morbid  susceptibility  of  those 
vessels,  and  brought  about  in  like  manner  by  a  per* 
sistence  in  the  same  vicious  practice;  Impotence, 
from  inability  of  retention  resulting  from  repletion 
of  those  vessels,  all  demand  a  variety  of  treatment 
peculiar  to  the  precise  condition  of  the  parts.  Impo- 
potence  from  mental  influence  has  also  its  appropri- 
ate management.  Exclusive  of  this,  the  generative 
infirmity  under  consideration,  though  occasionally 
arising  from  simple  disease,  is  ascribable  in  by  far 
the  greater  majority  of  instances  to  the  excesses  of 
Sensualism,  either  with  women,  or,  more  commonly 
still,  from  that  vile  excess  to  which  such  frequent  al- 
lusion has  been  made  in  these  pages.  Iyong-pro- 
tracted  chastity  or  continence  is  not  to  be  overlooked 
as  a  cause  of  impotence;  the  very  reverse  of  the  de- 
grading habit  of  self-pollution,  it  is  not  only  com- 
paratively rare,  but  offers  in  its  very  nature  the  in- 
dications of  a  cure.  But  that  long-continued  de- 
bauchery, whether  with  women  or  by  masturbation, 
is  to  be  assigned  as  the  most  common  and  prominent 


102  SEMINAL  WEAKNESS. 

of  the  causes  of  Impotence,  is  a  fact  admitted  by  all 
systematic  writers,  and  amply  and  painfully  con- 
firmed by  my  own  experience.  Mons.  Pinel  ob- 
serves:— "The  impotence  caused  by  the  latter  ex- 
cess reduces  youth  to  the  nullity  of  old  age,  and  is 
too  often  incurable."  Fortunately,  the  records  of  a 
numerous  list  of  cases  prove  that  recovery  of  the 
powers  of  manhood  is  not  (under  judicious  manage- 
ment) so  altogether  hopeless  as  might  seem  to  be 
the  fact,  trusting  only  to  the  observations  of  those 
medical  men  who  have  made  these  subjects  their  pe- 
culiar and  exclusive  study. 

Impotence  is  often  caused  by  debility  of  the  geni- 
tal organs;  induced  by  precocious  venereal  enjoyments 
or  by  the  unrestrained  abuse  of  the  delicate  struct- 
ures in  any  method  that  tends  to  produce  repeated 
and  severe  evacuations  of  the  seminal  fluid.  If  Im- 
potence results  from  self-pollution,  there  is  a  want  of 
erection,  and  should  a  seminal  emission  take  place, 
the  semen  does  not  possess  its  prolific  power,  and 
thus  the  man  is  at  once  Impotent  and  Sterile. 
This  form  of  impotence  is  truly  deplorable;  and  un- 
fortunately it  is  the  most  prevalent  variety;  neverthe- 
less, the  author  has  cured  many  persons  laboring 
under  this  distressing  complication,  although  several 
involuntary  diurnal  as  well  as  nocturnzl  emissions 
have  regularly  occurred  without  amorous  impulse. 
Next  to  Self -pollution,  excessive  venery  is  a  frequent 
cause  of  impotence,  as  well  as  of  sterility  among  the 
male  sex.  This  is  a  frequent  cause  of  want  of  off- 
spring" in  young  unmarried  persons.  In  these  cases, 


SEMINAL  WEAKNESS.  103 

the  semen  may  escape  without  the  aid  of  the  ejacu- 
latory  muscles,  is  imperfect  in  quality,  devoid  of 
power  until  the  health  be  improved,  or,  if  impreg- 
nation ensues,  the  child  undoubtedly  partakes  of  the 
debility  of  the  parent,  soon  to  be  consigned  to  a 
premature  grave,  the  victim  of  that  nameless  atrophy 
or  wasting  decay  which  hurries  thousands  of  infants 
annually  to  the  tomb.  In  these  cases  the  male  par- 
ent generally  suffers  from  inflammation  of  the  sem- 
inal vesicles,  or  there  is  a  seminal  weakness,  with 
more  or  less  involuntary  discharge. 

The  surest  means  by  which  sound  and  vigorous 
children  may  be  engendered  is  a  good  constitution, 
not  enfeebled  by  excessive  waste  of  those  powers 
which  in  their  assemblage  constitute  the  manifesta- 
tion of  the  living  principle.  It  is  admitted,  not  mere- 
ly by  philosophic  writers  who  have  speculated  deep- 
ly upon  the  subject,  but  by  all  who  have  paid  the 
least  attention  to  the  facts  connected  with  such  a 
statement,  that  not  merely  the  physical  but  the  moral 
dispositions  of  the  parents  are  transmitted  by  gener- 
ation; hence,  if  a  sound  mind  in  a  sound  body  be 
the  first,  greatest  and  most  lasting  blessing,  and  its 
deprivation  or  absence  the  greatest  possible  curse, 
how  imperatively  necessary  is  the  obligation  to  cal- 
culate closely  the  tendency  of  vicious  indulgences,  to 
avoid  the  contamination  of  depraved  habits,  and  to 
correct  and  elude  the  consequences  of  that  debilit}' 
already  imposed  upon  the  generative  organs  by  sen- 
sual excess!  Impotence  and  Sterility  are  usually  the 
results  of  wilful  imprudence.    Malformation  is  a  di- 


104  SEMINAL  WEAKNESS. 

rect  interposition  of  creative  wisdom;  its  occurrence 
is  comparatively  rare,  but  failing  power  is  not  only 
exceedingly  common,  but  generally  constitutes  a 
self-inflicted  evil.  Diseased  and  delicate  parents  pro- 
create diseased  and  weakly  offspring.  The  same  re- 
sults are  observed  in  plants  and  animals.  Can  it  be 
supposed  that  the  physical  powers,  the  sympathies, 
of  a  beautiful  woman  of  an  excellent  constitution  are 
in  unison  with  those  of  a  man  whose  best  energies 
were  long  ago  expended  in  the  premature  and  illicit 
excesses  of  lawless  excitement,  whose  youth  has  been 
a  hurried  history  of  wild  enjoyment,  whose  passions 
have  been  lashed  past  the  natural  powers  of  bodily 
organization,  and  who  now  brings  his  decrepit  efforts 
as  a  worthless  offering  at  the  shrine  of  matrimonial 
sanctity  ?  Or  worse  still — is  there  a  mockery  more 
deep,  more  bitter,  than  that  desolation  of  spirit 
which  an  affectionate  woman  must  feel  on  finding 
when  she  clasps,  entwined  within  her  circling  em- 
brace, the  mere  wreck  of  Sensualism;  the  horrible 
victim  of  self-pollution;  the  creature  who,  having 
trained  his  imagination  and  bodily  powers  to  mere 
fancied  enjoyments,  is  now  deprived  almost,  if  not 
entirely,  of  the  capability  of  resuming  the  actions 
for  which  his  generative  organs  were  destined. 
Woman's  scorn  must  be  the  more  intense,  because 
from  the  very  nature  of  her  own  position  she  is  pre- 
cluded from  giving  vent  to  her  feelings  of  anger  and 
vexation.  Love  cannot  be  reciprocal  in  such  cases; 
animal  or  organic  impulse  will  prefer  that  which  is 
more  accordant  with  itself;  even  beasts  prefer  males 


SEMINAL  WEAKNESS.  105 

which  are  possessed  of  vigor,  power,  and  beauty,  and 
this  instinct  is  implanted  by  Nature  in  all  animals. 
Whatever  perversion  civilization  may  effect  in  out 
feelings  and  manners,  it  cannot  extinguish  this  in- 
stinct. And  this  is  an  eminently  wise  ordination,  as 
tending  to  the  perpetuity  of  a  healthy  race  of  human 
beings. 

If  Sensualism  has  impaired  the  powers,  not  of 
both  parents,  but  of  one  only,  the  punishment  of  the 
offence  is  either  Sterility  or  debility;  or  pain,  dis- 
ease, and  death  transmitted  to  the  children  and  re- 
flected back  with  sorrow  upon  the  parents.  Impo- 
tence, then,  is  the  last  crowning  scourge  of  sexual 
imperfection,  and  demands  for  its  removal  the  most 
cautious  application  of  the  resources  of  the  healing 
art.  The  treatment  of  the  chronic  diseases  of  the 
generative  system  has  been  strangely  neglected  and 
signally  misunderstood.  The  efficacy  of  well  direct- 
ed efforts  has  been  much  distrusted  in  this  matter, 
and  it  is  remarkable  that  both  the  patient  and 
practitioner  contribute  to  these  impediments;  for  as 
the  latter  has  been  accustomed  to  see  his  remedies 
speedy  in  their  effects,  he  is  himself  discouraged  if 
they  do  not  immediately  produce  the  desired  benefit. 
Nor  is  it  any  wonder  that  the  patient  becomes  incred- 
ulous of  the  promised  relief;  neither  of  them  recol- 
lecting that  the  morbid  states  have  been  slowly  pr> 
duced,  and  cannot  therefore  be  speedily  changed. 

Self-pollution,  the  frequent  cause  of  sexual  Impo- 
tence and  sterility,  is  generally  the  habit  of  the  best 
years  of  youthful  life;  and  its  deadening  impress 


106 


SEMINAL  WEAKNESS. 


often  tells  with  deplorable  certainty,  long  after  the 
baneful  practice  has  been  relinquished,  Time  must 
therefore  be  afforded  for  the  rectification  of  that 
artificial  state  into  which  the  powers  of  the  system 
have  been  wantonly  plunged.  It  is  evidently  the  ab- 
sence of  fixed  principles,  in  our  pathology  of  the 
generative  system,  that  has  given  such  unbridled 
license  to  quackery.  There  has  always  existed  a 
vagueness  of  opinion  respecting  their  nature,  and  an 
unsettled  doctrine  as  to  the  most  rational  methods  to 
be  adopted  for  their  mitigation  and  cure.  The  commu- 
nication of  disordered  action  is  an  inevitable  result  of 
indulgence  in  any  mode  of  sensualism,  either  exces- 
sive, or  contrary  to  the  order  of  nature  and  the  con- 
stitution of  our  being;  and  the  nature  of  that  per- 
verted action  may  be  readily  anticipated.  In  fact  we 
see  it  exemplified  in  excessive  irritability  of  the  blad- 
der and  seminal  vesicles,  producing  incapability  for 
retention,  disease  of  the  spinal  marrow  and  brain, 
spasm  of  the  urethra,  and  stricture,  and  effeminate 
flaccidity  of  the  penis,  testicles  and  scrotum.  Can  it 
be«expected  that  these  organs  should  be  capable  under 
such  circumstances  of  fulfilling  their  appropriate 
office  in  the  task  of  procreation?  Most  assuredly 
not.  Where  Impotence  is  consequent  upon  that 
baneful  propensity,  which  cannot  be  sufficiently  stig- 
matized, its  extent  of  severity  is  far  greater  than 
when  produced  by  excessive  indulgence  with  women, 
because  the  vital  fluid  that  could  have  improved  the 
stamina  of  the  system  has  been  lost  without  satisfac- 
tion; consequently  no  gratification  of  the  mind  has 


Seminal  weakness. 


been  had  in  counterpoise  to  compensate,  and  in 
some  measure  to  repair,  the  expenditure  of  power. 

The  man  who,  from  his  anxiety  to  indulge  to  the 
utmost  his  libidinous  propensities  seeks  for  variety 
among  women,  may  certainly  find  in  such  variety  a 
new  stimulus  efficient  for  the  occasion,  and  may  be 
able  to  accomplish  more  frequent  repetitions  of  the 
sexual  act  than  the  sober  married  man  who  is  faithful 
to  one;  but  we  cannot  overlook  the  fact  that  this  is 
undoubtedly  accomplished  at  the  expense  of  a  corre- 
sponding amount  of  unnaturally  excited  energy,  and 
the  ultimate  results  of  such  efforts  tell  with  fearful 
and  tremendous  horrors  upon  the  helpless  and  de- 
bilitated votary  of  greedy  pleasure.  The  nightly 
partner  of  a  husband's  bed  silently  offers  only  that 
gratification  which  is  demanded  by  the  sexual  organs, 
when  fully  charged  with  seminal  fluid  and  impatient 
for  relief;  to  such  a  man  the  stimulus  of  variety  is 
unsought,  contemned,  forbidden,  as  contrary  not 
merely  to  all  laws,  human  and  divine,  but  as  direct- 
ly opposed  to  his  well-being,  to  the  maintenance  of  his 
animal  organization  in  health,  strength,  and  useful- 
ness. Here,  then,  the  natural  laws  of  his  physical 
constitution  harmonize  most  admirably  with  the 
higher  sanctions  of  morality.  The  actual  amount 
of  enjoyment  realized  by  the  temperate  is,  in  the 
long  run,  far  greater;  power  is  maintained  until  old 
age,  and  a  vigorous  offspring  is  engendered;  while 
the  hasty,  violent,  and  forced  gratifications  of  the 
Sensualist,  though  vivid  for  a  moment,  are  succeeded 
by  that  worst  form  of  helplessness — insatiable  desire 


108 


SEMINAL  WEAKNESS. 


appended  to  diseased  and  powerless  organs.  The 
draining  of  the  seminal  fluid  which  occurs  either 
from  excessive  indulgence  in  venereal  gratifications, 
or  from  solitary  vice,  is  not  equally  great  in  every 
instance.  There  are  some  individuals  who  are  not 
rendered  absolutely,  but  only  partially  impotent. 
They  can  accomplish  the  sexual  act  occasionally, 
and  with  severe  effort,  to  the  disgust,  doubtless,  of 
the  female,  or  they  are  tolerably  able,  yet  unprolific. 
Their  powers  are  weakened,  not  altogether  destroyed. 
These  patients  have  resources  left  in  surgical  skill. 

If  these  things  be  so  (and  who  will  dare  to  contra- 
vene their  truth,  founded  as  it  is  on  ordinary  every- 
day observation  of  mankind?)  it  follows  that  there 
are,  and  may  be,  varieties  of  Seminal  Weakness,  orig- 
inating most  commonly  in  Nocturnal  Emissions, and 
these,  dependent  in  many  instances,  but  not  invari- 
ably so,  on  the  unnatural  practice  of  self-pollution, 
to  which  such  ample  reference  has  been  made  in  the 
foregoing  pages.  That  these  emissions  lead  to  the 
most  deplorable  consequences,  independent  of  the 
injury  done  to  the  generative  function,  is  indisput- 
able. The  most  studious  people,  and  those  ot  a  sple- 
netic cast,  are  subject  to  this  infirmity,  and  the  dis- 
charge of  semen  is  commonly  so  considerable,  that 
they  fall  into  a  slow  wasting  consumption.  A  Roman 
physician  (whose  opinion  is  supported  by  John  of 
Acarius,  author  of  a  work  composed  for  the  Emper- 
or) observes:  "If  nocturnal  emissions  continue  any 
time,  the  necessary  consequences  are  consumption 
and  death;  for  the  most  balsamic  part  of  the  humor 


EFFECTS  OF  SELF-ABUSE.  109 

and  animal  spirit  is  dissipated;  the  whole  body  falls 
away,  and  particularly  the  back;  the  patients  become 
feeble,  dry  and  pale;  they  languish  in  slow,  melan- 
choly agony."  Let  this  antiquated,  }*et  terrifically 
correct  portraiture,  deter  the  thoughtless  from  prac- 
tices which  lead  to  such  a  state;  and  those  in  whom 
it  is  commencing,  let  not  incipient  evil  be  deemed 
unworthy  of  their  most  serious  consideration. 


The  Moral  and  Physical  Effects  of 
Self-Abuse,  Spermatorrhoea 
and  Impotence. 

All  the  faculties  are  weakened  by  indulgence  in 
this  vice.  The  sense  of  hearing  loses  its  acuteness. 
and  much  annoyance  is  caused  by  noise  and  singing 
in  the  ears;  sometimes  even  deafness  results.  The 
eyes  lose  their  brilliancy,  and  appear  dull;  the  pu- 
pils are  more  or  less  dilated.  According  to  Richtei 
—one  of  the  most  eminent  of  surgical  authorities— 
"No  general  weakening  causes  operate  on  the  eyes 
and  occasion  total  blindness  so  powerfully  and  so 


110  EFFECTS  OF  SELF-ABUSE. 

often  as  premature  and  excessive  indulgences  in  ve- 
nereal pleasures. ' '  Another  of  the  evils  resulting 
from  self-pollution  is  failure  in  the  power  of  the 
mind,  especially  the  memory.  In  short,  it  may  be 
stated  with  the  utmost  confidence  that  there  is  not 
an  intelligent  faculty  with  which  the  beneficent  Cre- 
ator has  blessed  us,  that  is  not  liable  to  be  impaired 
by  these  causes.  It  is  a  curious  fact  that  the  habit  of 
self-pollution  is  invariably  followed  by  a  diminution 
in  the  size  of  the  penis.  The  organ  shrinks  to  one- 
half  its  former  outline,  or  in  those  who  have  prac- 
ticed it  in  youth,  does  not  attain  to  full  growth.  The 
power  of  perfect  erection  is  altogether  destroyed; 
when  coition  is  attempted,  the  requisite  solidity  ia 
not  maintained,  or  if  an  entrance  into  the  vagina  be 
partially  effected,  it  is  followed  by  a  premature  emis- 
sion. Let  not  the  victim  of  secret  vice  flatter  himself 
his  unmanly  act  escapes  detection.  Dr.  Armstrong 
observes, — "I  think  I  should  know  a  person  in  the 
streets  who  has  addicted  himself  to  this  vice,  by 
merely  walking  behind  him,  from  his  peculiar  gait." 

From  the  commencement  of  the  unfortunate  habit 
of  self-pollution,  which  is  invariably  the  cause  of 
seminal  weakness,  there  is  frequently  a  loss  of  desire 
for  sexual  intercourse;  or,  where  the  desire  is  felt,  a 
repetition  of  the  unmanly  habit  is  preferred  to  coition 
in  the  natural  way.  This, when  persisted  in, causes  the 
face  to  become  pale,  bloated  and  cadaverous,  the 
body  feeble  and  emaciated,  and  an  impeded  circula- 
tion in  the  extremities.  Then  occur  trembling 
hands,  dim  eyes,  confused  ringing  in  the  ear,  som^- 


EFFECTS  OF  SELF-ABUSE.  Ill 

times  deafness,  accompanied  with  frequent  and  violent 
headache.  A  nervous  dread  and  loss  of  energy  are 
very  common,  and  we  have  frequently  heard  patients 
confess  that  they  have  walked  their  rooms  for  hours 
together,  at  night,  fearing  to  go  to  bed.  This  is 
often  experienced  when  the  nocturnal  seminal  emis- 
sions are  numerous.  We  may  here  observe  that  the 
practice  of  Onanism  may  sometimes  be  indulged  in 
without  apparent  ill  effects  for  a  time.  Some  are 
affected  in  a  month  or  two;some  may  escape  for  years; 
but  none  entirely  escape,  for  it  is  impossible  to  violate 
any  law  of  Nature  and  Nature's  God,  without  evil 
consequences  resulting.  The  practice  of  Onanism  is 
a  moral  and  physical  crime,  consequently  the  punish- 
ment is  twofold.  Thus,  while  the  bodily  vigor  is  lost, 
and  senses  lose  their  keenness,  the  mind  also  becomes 
affected,  the  memory  fails,  the  judgment  becomes 
affected,  and  the  patient  becomes  unable  for  any  ex- 
ertion, bodily  or  mental.  Such  is  the  history  of 
many  cases  of  suicide  of  which  we  read  in  the  news- 
papers; cases  mysterious,  at  first  sight  causeless,  but 
understood  by  the  educated  physician,  regarding  them 
by  the  clear  light  of  science.  Tissot,  the  celebrated 
physician  and  early  writer  on  this  subject,  states  the 
result  of  this  practice  to  be,  "First: — Total  derange- 
ment of  the  stomach,  shown  in  loss  or  irregularity  of 
appetite  and  indigestion.  In  some  cases  the  appetite 
becomes  almost  voracious,  Nature  thus  endeavoring 
to  repair  the  loss  inflicted  upon  her.  Second: — 
Weakness  of  the  respiratory  organs,  whence  frequent- 
ly result  dry  coughs,  almost  always  colds,  weakness 


112  EFFECTS  OF  SELF-ABUSE. 

of  the  vo*ce,  and  sense  of  suffocation  on  slight  exer- 
tion. Third: — General  relaxation  of  the  nervous 
system,  lassitude  by  day,  painful  dreams  by  night; 
the  sleep  is  unrefreshing.  Fourth:— Great  debility 
of  the  organs  of  generation;  almost  all  complaining 
of  only  imperfect  erections;  desire  no  longer  exists, 
and  impotency  results.  Nocturnal  emissions  are  a 
terrible  scourge  to  these  sufferers,  and  often  over- 
whelm those  even  whose  organs  are  absolutely  sense- 
less when  awake.  When  the  patients  have  noctnrnal 
pollutions, they  find  themselves  next  day  in  a  state  of 
depression,  of  discouragement,  debility,  ennui,  and 
lassitude,  with  pains  in  the  loins, head  and  eyes. Fifth: 
— Eruptions  frequently  appear  on  the  face  and  fore- 
head; the  features  become  changed  from  the  rosy  hue 
of  health  to  a  dull,  heavy,  and  sallow  complexion.' ' 
We  will  conclude  this  part  of  the  subject  with  a 
few  words  respecting  Spermatorrhoea  and  Impotence. 
This  term  spermatorrhoea  is  derived  from  two  Greek 
words,  signifying  a  flowing  of  seed,  and  is  applied  to 
all  cases  in  which  an  emission  of  the  seed  takes  place, 
excepting  from  coition  ;in  other  words  spermatorrhoea 
may  be  termed  an  involuntary  loss  of  semen.  The 
usual  causes  of  this  disease  are  self-pollution,  but  it 
may  also  be  the  result  of  immoderate  ind  ulgence  in 
coition,  of  ill-cured  gleet,  and  frequently  the  disease 
of  the  prostate  gland.  Constipation  of  the  bowels, 
and  the  irritation  of  the  rectum  caused  by  piles,  may 
also  predispose.  But,  after  all,  the  influence  of  these 
causes  is  insignificant  compared  with  that  of  self- 
abuse.  The  symptoms  of  spermatorrhoea  may  be  di- 


EFFECTS  OF  SELF-ABUSE.  113 

vided.  into  local  and  constitutional.  The  local  symp- 
toms are  generally  emissions  of  the  seed  at  night; 
and  we  call  the  particular  attention  of  our  readers  to 
this  rule.  Nocturnal  emissions  are  decided  signs  of 
debility  and  symptoms  of  approaching  impotence. 
I^et  it  be  remembered  that  every  drop  that  escapes 
is  the  habitation  of  living  beings,  a  particle  of  a  liv- 
ing seed,  and  that  one  drop  under  favorable  circum- 
stances, is  sufficient  to  give  life  to  a  future  being. 
With  respect  to  diurnal  emissions — which  occur  at 
stool,  whilst  making  water,  or  which,  are  evident  in 
a  continual  moisture  and  humidity  of  the  organs — 
they  are  a  complicated  character,  and  are  in  many  in- 
stances undiscovered  and  unsuspected  by  the  patient 
till  disorder  has  assumed  a  most  formidable  character; 
for  he  is  quite  unconscious  of  an}^  seminal  loss.  The 
nocturnal  emissions  sometimes  leave  him  entirely,  the 
draiti  by  day  being  so  excessive;  but  at  last  some  for- 
midable symptoms  force  him  to  seek  relief  at  the 
eleventh  hour.  During  the  progress  of  spermatorrhoea 
many  patients  suffer  from  a  hard  dry  cough,  a  diffi- 
culty of  breathing,  pains  in  the  chest,  and  hence  are 
treated  for  consumption;  for  the  constitutional  S3Tmp- 
toms  of  spermatorrhoea  are  innumerable,  so  when  the 
cause  of  the  disease  is  unknown  and  unsuspected,  the 
general  practitioner  will  naturally  attack  the  symp- 
toms. The  appetite,  at  first,  will  frequently  increase 
and  become  voracious — it  is  the  effort  nature  makes 
to  support  the  failing  strength.  All  the  senses  are 
more  or  less  affected — the  eye  loses  its  brilliancy, 
there  is  always  more  or  less  dilation  of  the  pupil,  and 


114  EFFECTS  OF  SELF-ABUSE. 

the  very  look  of  the  patient  reveals  the  secret  to  the 
glance  of  experience.  The  penis  and  testicles  become 
small  and  relaxed,  and  a  high  surgical  authority  ob- 
serves, the  infirmity  may  not  inaptly  be  termed  3 
consumption  of  those  glands.  And  we  cannot  be  as- 
tonished at  the  frightful  effects  caused  by  unnatural 
emissions  of  seed,  when  we  recollect  that  physicians 
of  all  ages  are  agreed  that  the  loss  of  one  ounce  of 
semen  by  self-abuse,  nocturnal  emissions  or  at  stool, 
injures  the  system  and  weakens  it  more  than  the  ab- 
straction of  twelve  ounces  of  blood.  In  the  early 
stages  of  seminal  weakness,  different  persons  are 
x^ariously  affected;  some  are  incapable  of  procuring 
a  discharge  of  semen  into  the  cavity  of  the  female 
genitals  in  a  natural  way,  though  they  may  effect 
temporary  erection;  while  others  cannot  perform  the 
act  of  copulation,  from  the  emission  taking  place  too 
quickly,  and  before  the  proper  firmness  of  the  male 
organ  has  enabled  it  to  effect  the  requisite  penetra- 
tion. To  recapitulate  briefly  the  result  of  our  experi- 
ence:— Impotence,  from  long-continued  spermator- 
rhoea, is  the  inability  to  perform  the  venereal  act. 
Those  cases  are  most  difficult  to  cure  which  have 
been  caused  by  self- pollution;  but  science,  combined 
with  skill  and  experience,  will  almost  effect  miracles, 
and  our  treatment  of  these  cases  has  been  most  suc- 
cessful. Impotence  is  also  caused  by  too  free  indul- 
gence in  sexual  pleasures;  these  cases  can  be  cured 
with  comparative  ease  by  rest  and  tonic  medicines. 
Impotence  is  sometimes  the  result  of  moral  causes — 1 
nervousness,  too  much  respect,  etc. ;  the  treatment  ih 


EFFECTS  OF  SELF-ABUSE.  115 

obvious.    Impotence,  then,  is  chiefly  caused  by  de- 
bility of  the  genital  organs;  there  is  a  want  of  erec- 
tion, and  if  a  seminal  emission  takes  place,  the  se- 
men does  not  possess  its  prolific  power,  and  the  man 
is  at  once  impotent  and  sterile.   Sterility,  or  barren- 
ness, is  sometimes  a  fault  of  the  female  organiza- 
tion, and  is  produced  by  various  causes;  amongst 
others  which  entail  a  loss  of  vital  and  productive 
energy,  excessive  indulgence  is  one  of  the  most 
prominent.    Excessive  venery  is  a  frequent  cause  of 
want  of  offspring  in  young  married  people.  In  these 
cases  the  seed  does  not  acquire  sufficient  vitality  to 
stimulate  the  ovum  in  the  womb;  and  even  if  a  child 
should  come  to  life,  it  partakes  of  the  debility  of  the 
parent,  and  is  soon  hurried  to  a  premature  grave, 
the  victim  of  that  nameless  atrophy  or  wasting  away 
which  kills  its  thousands  of  infants  annually.  Im- 
potence and  sterility  are  generally  the  result  of  wil- 
ful imprudence.    Malformation  is  very  rare,  but 
failing  power  is  not  exceedingly  common,  but  gen- 
erally constitutes  a  self-inflicted  evil.    The  author 
is  frequently  consulted  by  those  contemplating  mar- 
riage, and  whenever  bad  habits  have  existed,  or 
weakness  is  experienced,   this  precaution  is  most 
wise,  and  may  prevent  much  future  unhappiness. 
Likewise,  as  respects  the  married  man,  it  often  oc- 
curs that  a  few  minuter    confidential  conversation 
with  one  who  has  made   iliese  subjects  a  special 
study  is  attended  by  the  happiest  results.  There  are 
resources  in  the  science  of  medicine,  and  few,  very 
few  need  despair  of  restoration  to  power  of  man- 


116  EFFECTS  OF  SELF-ABUSE. 

hood.  But  we  will  refrain  from  further  details;  our 
object  is  friendly  suggestion,  not  importunate  dicta- 
tion. We  will  conclude  this  chapter  with  a  few 
words  of  the  celebrated  L,allemand: — "Many  dis- 
eases when  left  to  themselves  work  thek  own  cure, 
provided  only  they  be  not  exasperated  by  the  im- 
prudence of  the  patient.  This  is  not  the  case  with 
spermatorrhoea;  chiefly,  perhaps,  because  the  effects 
produced  by  the  disease  itself  are  favorable  to  the 
increase  of  involuntary  discharges.  The  natural 
tendency  of  this  disease  to  become  aggravated,  as 
the  result  of  its  own  effects,  frequently  leads  to  a  fa- 
tal termination.  The  patients  generally  expire  in 
one  of  the  attacks  of  syncope  that  follow  conges- 
tion of  the  brain.  In  this  way,  such  of  the  insane 
who  have  fallen  into  a  state  of  dementia  usually 
expire.  Many  die  from  diseases  [as  consumption, 
&c]  aggravated  and  inflamed  by  unsuspected  sper- 
matorrhoea; the  symptoms  are  treated  by  the  physi- 
cian, but  the  great  cause,  spermatorrhoea,  remains 
unsuspected." 


TREATMENT  OF  SPERMATORRHOEA.  1X1 


Treatment  of  Spermatorrhoea,  Sem< 
inal  Weakness  and  Nervous 
Debility. 


Iyike  many  other  intractable  diseases,  sperma- 
torrhoea has  been  the  '  'opprobrium  medicorum' '  of 
the  regular  practitioner.  From  its  tediousness,  the 
medical  man  is  wearied  of  it;  and,  like  an  obstinate 
gleet,  after  trying  all  possible  remedies,  has  given  up 
in  despair.  Nor  is  this  altogether  to  be  wondered  at, 
when  we  consider  the  extreme  difficulty  of  the  diag- 
nosis. Spermatorrhoea  is  a  drainage  or  waste,  a 
dribbling  away  of  the  seminal  fluid.  As  already  ex- 
plained, it  may  exist  unknown,  and,  consequently, 
unattended  to  until  great  mischief  has  been  inflicted 
on  the  constitution  and  vital  powers.  Now  what  are 
the  indications  of  treatment?  Naturally,  to  give 
tone  to  the  vessels  that  neglect  their  office; to  prevent 
the  too  profuse  secretion  of  impoverished  fluid;  to 
establish  a  healthy  relation  between  the  two;  to  re- 
move the  provoking  causes  that  brought  about  the 
first  estrangement;  to  cultivate  the  mind  into  higher 
notion  of  its  importance,  and  thereby  withhold  the 
irritating  consequences  of  disordered  imagination. 
The  treatment,  then,  of  spermatorrhoea  and  its  ac- 


118      TREATMENT  OF  SPERMATORRHOEA. 

companying  affections,  mental  and  physical,  may  be 
divided  into — First: — Iyocal  and  Constitutional;  Sec- 
ond:— Moral  and  Dietetic.  The  first  step  on  which 
we  must  insist  is  the  relinquishing  of  those  practices 
which  have  occasioned  the  disease.  This  is  essential; 
the  most  careful  and  the  most  scientific  treatment 
must  otherwise  increase  the  mischief,  and,  by  giving 
greater  temporary  strength,  enable  the  patient  to  in- 
flict upon  himself  more  permanent  evils.  A  due  atten- 
tion to  air,  exercise,  sleep  and  regimen  is  in  all  cases 
proper,  and  entirely  within  the  control  of  the  pa- 
tient. A  local  remedy  of  great  value  is  cold  water; 
the  sponge-bath  or  shower-bath  should  be  used  in  the 
morning,  a  small  quantity  of  bay  salt  being  dissolved 
in  the  water.  Coarse  toweling  and  flesh  brushes 
should  be  used  after  the  bath;  a  suspensory  bandage 
should  be  used,  the  diet  should  be  generous,  but  not 
stimulating ;animal  food  in  moderation, and  he  should 
eat  little  and  often,  rather  than  too  full  a  meal.  Ex- 
ercise must  not  be  neglected;  moderate  at  first,  and 
gradually  augmented.  Stimulating  drinks  are  im- 
proper, spirits  are  in  all  cases  hurtful;  a  glass  or  two 
of  wine  may  be  taken  if  demanded  by  previous  habit. 
In  this  case  a  pale  dry  sherry  will  be  best.  With 
respect  to  medicines,  a  sketch  only  of  the  treatment 
can  be  offered.  Cases  vary  so  widely,  that  the  cura- 
tive means  must  be  varied  accordingly.  The  class  of 
drugs  which  allay  excitement  and  irritability  are  first 
likely  to  be  required,  for  the  stomach  is  so  weakened 
and  capricious  that  the  disease  is  frequently  mis  taken 
£br  indigestion.  Mild  and  cordial  laxatives,  alterative 


TREATMENT  OF  SPERMATORRHOEA.  119 

drugs  with  neutral  salts,  febrifuges,  and  sedatives, 
will  soon  quiet  the  system  and  enable  it  to  tolerate 
tonic  and  restorative  medicines,  which  if  commenced 
with  are  decidedly  injurious.  But  what  is  the  mean- 
ing of  tonic  ?  for  no  word  is  so  much  misapplied.  One 
man  means  quinine,  another  iron,  a  third  mineral 
acids,  whilst  a  fourth  means  stimulants,  and  so  on 
through  the  whole  pharmacopoeia.  Now,  we  mean 
not  any  one,  but  the  whole  class  of  medicines  com- 
bined, changed,  increased,  or  diminished  to  suit  the 
particular  case;  in  this  consists  the  real  art  in  scien- 
tific prescribing.  One  man  gradually  gathers  strength 
from  quinine,  which  would  not  suit  another,  whose 
deteriorated  blood-globules  will  become  red  and 
healthy  under  the  exhibition  of  iron,  in  some  of  its 
numerous  preparations.  The  peculiarity  of  my  treat- 
ment consists  in  the  selection  and  practical  adoption 
of  remedies  we  possess.  And  the  above  are  but  a 
few  of  the  remedies  we  employ  in  generative  diseases 
or  debility.  The  peculiarity  of  our  treatment  is  to 
act  directly  on  the  seminal  vessels,  to  strengthen 
without  exciting,  and  so  restore  health  by  removing 
the  cause  of  disease.  It  would  be  easy  to  recommend 
various  remedies;  but  medicine  in  the  hands  of  timid, 
irresolute  or  ignorant,  are  more  likely  to  produce 
evil  than  advantage  In  all  cases  let  the  best  advice 
be  sought  from  one  who  has  made  these  diseases  a 
special  study.  Some  are  prevented  from  applying  for 
assistance  from  dread  of  accidental  exposure;  it  may, 
therefore,  be  proper  to  remark,  that  it  is  our  rule  vo 
destroy  all  correspondence  at  the  termination  of  each 


120 


URETHRAL  DISCHARGES. 


case;  or  if  preferred,  to  return  it  to  the  writers,  in- 
violable secrecy  and  certain  relief  are  the  boons  we 
offer  to  suffering  humanity.  Unfortunately  practi- 
tioners in  this  country  have  long  been  averse  to  se- 
lecting this  branch  of  medical  art  as  a  study;  many 
distinguished  men  have  risen  to  fame  and  affluence 
by  devoting  their  talents  to  midwifery,  operative  sur- 
gery of  the  eye  and  ear,  etc. ,  The  author  of  this  trea- 
tise is  content  to  brave  the  sneers  of  the  ignorant  and 
envy  of  the  malicious,  when  he  reflects  on  the  grati- 
tude of  those  whom  he  has  rescued  from  an  untime- 
ly grave;  he  knows  that  in  selecting  this  peculiar 
department  of  medicine  his  usefulness  has  been  in- 
creased, and  that  he  deserves  well  of  his  fellow  men. 


On  Certain  Urethral  Discharges. 


We  shall  not  here  consider  the  gonorrhoeal  dW 
charges,  as  those  are  treated  on  in  another  part  of 
the  work.  There  are,  however,  other  discharges,  and 
of  a  serious  nature,  which  often  call  for  skillful  and 
attentive  treatment.  The  first  of  these  is  termed 
gleet,  which  is  the  consequence  of  an  ill-cured  or 
neglected  gonorrhoea  or  clap.  There  is  another  dis- 
charge, a  discharge  of  the  seme-  without  sensation, 


URETHRAL  DISCHARGES.  121 

tvhich  is  the  result  of  a  debilitated  frame,  and  isfre- 
quently  induced  by  long-continued  self-pollution,  oi 
long  residence  in  hot  or  cold  climates.  The  penis  is 
invariably  damp  and  clammy;  there  is  a  slight  mu- 
cous discharge,  rather  thicker  than  ordinary  clap, 
which  sticks  in  patches  on  the  linen,  and  between 
the  nut  and  foreskin  of  the  penis.  Under  the  micro- 
scope, this  discharge  is  found  to  consist  of  sperma- 
tozoa, frequently  in  a  mutilated  state  and  free  from 
vitality.  The  affect  ion  is  characterized  by  the  emis- 
sion of  semen  upon  the  very  first  attempt  at  sexual 
intercourse,  and  often  before  a  regular  erection  can 
tfke  place;  sitting  in  a  warm  room,  horse  exercise, 
and  many  trivial  causes  will  produce  it.  The  emis- 
sion causes  little  or  no  sensation,  excepting  some- 
times  a  slight  spasm.  These  discharges  are  not  con- 
tagious, but  sexual  intercourse  must  be  studiously 
avoided  on  account  of  the  great  injury  that  may  re- 
sult to  the  patient.  Such  discharges  are  generally 
connected  with  deficiency  of  generative  power.  In 
one  instance  under  our  notice,  impotence  was  almost 
complete;  in  another  (a  married,  professional  man), 
the  powers  had  greatly  declined.  These  patients 
were  in  the  prime  of  life;  both  had,  however,  led  ir- 
regular lives.  The  irritation  in  cases  of  this  nature 
will  generally  be  found  to  exist  in  the  prostrate  gland, 
which  is  often  enlarged,  hence  a  frequent  desire  to 
urinate,  and  a  feeling  as  if  the  bladder  were  com- 
pletely emptied,  and  as  though  a  few  drops  of  urine 
were  retained  in  the  Posterior  part  of  the  uretha. 


122 


CATARRH. 


Catarrh. 


It  is  computed  that  there  are  in  the  United  States 
alone  over  five  millions  of  people  suffering  more  or 
less  with  Catarrh,  and  there  are  vast  numbers  of 
so-called  catarrh  cures  advertised;  of  course  each 
one  claiming  to  be  the  best  and  only  sure  cure.  But 
what  is  Catarrh  ?  Primarily  it  is  an  inflammation 
of  the  mucous  membrane,  the  membrane  or  skin 
which  forms  the  lining  of  all  the  passages  of  the 
body,  as  the  throat,  nose,  bronchial  tubes,  stomach, 
intestines,  bladder,  urinary  organs,  and  this  inflam- 
mation produces  a  fetid  discharge  from  the  in- 
flammed  membrane.  The  cause  is  generally  a 
neglected  cold,  though  sometimes  it  is  of  syphilitic 
origin;  the  disease  affects  various  parts  of  the  cavity 
of  the  nose,  sometimes  extending  to  the  frontal  sinus, 
and  even  to  the  ethemoidal  and  sphenoidal  cells. 
Again  it  is  confined  to  but  a  small  surface,  which  is 
ulcerated,  and  sometimes  the  bone  beneath  is 
diseased. 

Chronic  Catarrh — Is  marked  by  a  persistent 
offensive  discharge,  and  the  patient  complains  of 
uneasy  sensations,  with  frequent  "  stuffing  up"  of 
the  nose,  and  when  the  upper  part  of  the  nose  and 
frontal  sinus  is  affected,  it  frequently  gives  rise  to 
persistent  headache.  Chronic  catarrh  is  very  often 
a  constitutional  disease  resulting  from  dissipation, 
blood  taint  or  heredity.  Constitutional  catarrh  is 
often  met  with  in  weakly  women  suffering  with 
chronic  leucorrhoea,  the  two  disorders  expressive  of 


CATARRH. 


123 


the  same  general  tendency.  The  fetid  odor  eruatat- 
ing  from  some  catarrhal  patients  makes  life  a  burden 
as  it  repells  the  warmest  friends,  and  the  afrTicted 
person  is  a  nuisance  to  all  his  associates. 

The  tendency  of  catarrh  is  to  extend  along  all  the 
mucous  membranes  and  eat  into  and  destroy  the  un- 
derlying tissues.  Catarrh  produces  deafness;  this 
one  of  the  commonest  results,  the  disease  extending 
along  the  eustachian  tubes,  shutting  off  the  supply 
of  air,  the  hearing  is  impaired,  and  the  disease  often 
shows  itself  outwardly  in  discharges  from  the  ear. 
Catarrh  causes  Bronchitis  by  its  extending 
down  the  bronchial  tubes,  and  finally  Catarrh 
causes  Consumption.  When  catarrh  reaches  the 
lungs,  the  cavities  soon  become  the  seat  of  tubercu- 
lar deposits,  and  then  every  step  brings  the  victim 
nearer  the  grave.  Asthma  is  often  present  in 
catarrhal  cases. 

Treatment. — There  is  no  one  treatment  adapted 
to  each  individual  case.  Seven-tenths  of  the  cases 
I  treat  have  been  the  rounds  of  every  advertised 
remedy,  and  hence  are  not  cured.  My  treatment  is 
based  on  the  indications  presented  from  a  statement 
made  by  the  patient,  either  in  a  personal  consulta- 
tion or  by  answers  to  a  series  of  questions,  by  which 
I  am  made  fully  acquainted  with  the  particulars  and 
peculiarities  of  the  case  in  hand.  Every  intelligent 
person  will  see  the  great  importance  of  a  thorough 
understanding  on  my  part  before  undertaking  to  treat 
a  case  of  catarrh,  or  any  of  its  complications,  and  my 
readers  will  readily  see  why  advertised  remedies  for 


124 


CATARRH. 


catarrh  disappoint  those  who  use  them,  for  in  no  two 
cases  are  the  symptoms  exactly  alike,  and  a  remedy 
that  is  of  service  at  one  stage  of  the  disease,  may 
prove  to  be  hurtful  at  other  stages.  Hence,  to  treat 
catarrh  successfully,  all  the  symptoms  must  be  thor- 
oughly understood,  and  whether  these  symptoms  are 
secondary  to  other  disorders  of  the  general  system 
or  not;  and  this  intelligent  study  of  each  individual 
case  cannot  be  dispens  ed  with  and  success  expected. 

Questions  for  Patients. 

Most  cases  can  be  treated  by  mail,  where  a  visit 
to  this  city  would  be  fraught  with  heavy  expense 
or  otherwise  inconvenienced;  yet  there  are  cases 
where  a  personal  examination  is  imperative  and  the 
presence  of  the  patient  required  for  a  correct  diag- 
nosis of  the  disease.  For  the  convenience  of  those 
who  find  it  out  of  their  means  to  visit  me,  I  propose 
a  series  of  questions,  the  answers  to  which  will  en- 
able me  to  form  a  just  opinion  of  their  case. 

1.  What  is  your  name  and  age,  are  you  married 
or  single,  your  occupation,  postofhce  address,  ex- 
press office,  how  far  do  you  live  from  the  latter? 

2.  Are  you  weak  and  emaciated,  or  stout  and 
fleshy  ? 

3.  Are  your  bowels  regular  or  constipated? 

4.  Did  you  ever  use  medicine  for  your  present 
disease,  and  what  kind,  as  well  as  you  know? 

5.  How  long  have  you  had  your  present  disease, 
and  what  kind  of  doctors  have  treated  you,  if  any, 
as  well  as  you  know  ? 


QUESTIONS  FOP.  PATIENTS.  125 

6.  At  what  time  of  life  did  you  begin  masturba- 
tion, and  if  that  is  not  the  cause  of  your  trouble,  de- 
scribe it  fully  in  your  own  words  ? 

7.  About  how  often  on  an  average,  through  the 
whole  time,  did  you  commit  the  act  ? 

8.  How  long  since  you  entirely  quit  the  practice  ? 

9.  .  Have  you  a  dislike  for  the  society  of  females  ? 

10.  Are  you  impotent  or  deficient  in  erections? 

1 1 .  Impotency  may  be  caused  by  sexual  excesses. 
Did  you  ever  indulge  in  excess? 

1 2 .  Have  you  emissions  of  semen  on  occasion  of 
lewd  sights  or  amorous  thoughts  of  dallying  with 
females  ? 

13.  Do  you  have  seminal  losses,  and  how  often  do 
they  occur  with  lascivious  dreams,  and  do  they  pro- 
duce debility. 

14.  Do  you  have  emissions,  only  a  drop  or  two, 
after  urinating  or  at  stool  ? 

15.  Does  the  left  testicle  hang  lower  than  the 
other;  is  it  enlarged,  or  soft  and  inflamed  or  otherwise 
affected  ? 

16.  Are  your  penis  and  testicles  small  in  size  or 
or  were  they  always  small  ? 

1 7 .  What  are  your  habits  regarding  eating,  drink- 
ing, exercise  and  bathing,  or  washing  the  body  ? 

18.  Could  you  conveniently  visit  the  city  in  case 
it  should  be  necessary  for  you  to  do  so  ? 

19.  Are  your  eyes  dim,  red,  weak  or  inflamed  ? 

20.  Have  you  any  pain  in  the  shoulders,  back, 
chest  or  stomach  ? 

2 1  f    Is  your  mind  much  occupied  with  thoughts 


126  QUESTIONS  FOR  PATIENTS. 

of  your  disease? 

22.  Are  you  troubled  with  heaviness,  weakness, 
weariness  in  the  whole  body? 

23.  Are  you  heedless  for  business,  having  no 
ambition,  but,  on  the  contrary,  feel  lazy  and  indo- 
lent? 

24.  Do  you  have  thoughts  of  self-destruction? 

25.  Do  you  often  have  a  ringing  noise  in  the  ear 
or  deafness? 

26.  Can  you  concentrate  your  thoughts  on  any- 
thing, or  have  you  a  confusion  of  ideas  occasionally 
running  through  your  mind? 

27.  Is  your  memory  good  or  bad? 

28.  How  often  do  you  make  water  in  twenty-four 
hours? 

29.  Has  the  urine  a  sediment  on  standing  in  a 
chamber? 

30.  Have  you  skin  eruptions,  and  where? 

3 1 .  Are  you  nervous — the  least  excitement  caus- 
ing trembling? 


General  Remarks, 


State  what  symptoms  are  apparent  apart  from 
what  have  already  been  given,  and  what  is,  in  your 
opinion,  the  leading  or  primary  cause  of  your  pres- 
ent trouble.    Be  explicit. 


SPECIALISTS  1X7 


Specialists. 

A  difference  of  opinion  exists  upon  the  propriety 
of  any  physician  making  a  selection  of  some  one 
branch  of  medical  science,  and  confining  himself  in 
his  reading,  investigations  and  practice  to  that  par- 
ticular branch,  and  so  advertising.  For  my  own 
part,  after  a  thorough  medical  education,  at  twenty- 
two,  like  most  young  men  in  all  the  professions,  I 
thought  I  knew  it  all,  or  nearly  so,  but  actual  dem- 
onstration at  the  bedside  of  the  sick,  and  in  the 
room  of  the  dying,  soon  convinced  me  of  my  ina- 
bility in  many  cases,  and  that  medicine  is  not  one 
of  the  exact  sciences,  and  that  th^  only  hope  for  the 
advancement  of  medical  knowledge  lays  in  the  field 
of  experience.  After  seven  years  of  toil  and  a  fair 
share  of  patronage,  I  was  led  to  the  following  con- 
clusions: First,  that  if  a  physician  embrace  in  his 
practice  the  treatment  of  all  diseases,  his  knowledge 
of  all  of  them  must  necessarily  be  vague  and  inac- 
curate. Secondly,  that  the  common  mode  of  pre- 
scribing from  the  statement  of  the  patient,  with 
perhaps  no  examination  at  all,  and  no  record  being 
made  of  the  symptoms,  is,  to  say  the  least  of  it,  not 
the  best  mode  in  which  to  conduct  a  case  of  disease, 
especially  when  the  treatment  extends  through  sev- 
eral months.  Thirdly,  that  in  many  case?,  from  the 
dishonesty  or  ignorance  of  druggists,  the  medicines 


128 


SPECIALISTS. 


are  frequently  rendered  ineffective  and  positively 
injurious  to  the  patient.  Fourthly,  that  I  could  no 
longer  follow  such  a  course  of  uncertainty,  where 
such  important  interests  were  involved;  and  I  ap- 
peal to  the  general  public  if  my  conclusions  were 
not  legitimate  and  correct.  Abandoning  the  gener- 
al practice,  I  chose  a  branch  of  medical  science 
sufficiently  extensive  to  engage  all  tho  powers  of 
any  physician,  and  one  that  was  certainly  suscepti- 
ble of  improvement.  In  the  study  of  these  troubles, 
I  have  not  confined  myself  to  the  knowledge  em- 
braced in  the  allopathic  system  of  medicine  by  any 
means.  I  have  found  that  every  system  furnishes  a 
large  amount  of  valuable  information  pertaining  to 
them.  The  results  I  have  accomptished  during  the 
twenty-five  years  I  have  been  engaged  in  this  special 
practice  have  fully  convinced  me  that  no  person  can 
acquire  great  skill  in  the  treatment  of  these  com- 
plaints unless  he  devotes  his  whole  attention  to 
them.  In  fact,  the  adoption  of  some  particular  spec- 
ialty is  the  rule  in  almost  every  profession,  and  who 
will  have  the  hardihood  to  affirm  that  we  are  not 
benefitted  thereby,  both  individually  and  collective- 
ly? In  the  legal  profession  we  have  our  criminal, 
land  title,  admiralty,  United  States,  State  and  other 
classes  of  lawyers,  each  having  an  indispensible 
amount  of  legal  knowledge,  but  giving  especial  atten- 
tion to  his  particular  branch,  and  reading  very  many 
volumes  not  included  in  the  regular  course  relating 
particularly  to  that  Kranch.  In  painting  we  have  our 
landscape,  portrait,  ornamental,  carriage  and  sign 


SPECIALISTS.  129 

painters,  each  excelling  in  his  particular  branch;  but 
any  attempt  to  become  perfect  in  all.  would  certain 
ly  meet  with  a  failure.  The  same  fact  obtains  in  archi- 
tecture, manufactures,  merchandising,  and  even 
farming.  With  these  facts  before  us,  the  medical 
man  who  assumes  to  know  everything,  presumes  up- 
on the  ignorance  of  his  patrons,  and  in  the  matter  of 
life  and  death,  if  a  physician,  by  the  adoption  of  a 
particular  specialty  can  increase  his  skill,  even  ten 
per  cent.,  it  is  almost  priceless;  and  if  my  own  ex- 
perience is  any  criterion,  the  general  public  so  re- 
gards it.  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  it  would  be  a  step 
forward  if  our  legislators  would  interfere  and  oblige 
every  physician  to  write  his  prescriptions  in  plain 
English.  Nothing  short  of  this,  in  my  opinion,  will 
bring  quackery  to  an  end,  and  though  I  do  not  press 
so  desirable  an  object,  I  am  ready  for  it,  and  for 
years  have  allowed  my  patients  to  know  on  request 
the  medicines  they  are  using. 

When  a  case  of  disease  is  presented  to  me,  my  first 
efforts  are  directed  to  ascertain  what  is  unnatural  or 
wrong,  always  making  an  instrumental  examination 
when  I  regard  it  necessary.  Having  determined 
the  exact  nature  of  the  complaint,  I  make  a  record 
of  all  the  symptoms  in  detail,  in  a  case  book  kept  for 
that  purpose,  together  with  the  patient's  habits, 
dress  and  occupation,  as  well  as  the  previous  treat- 
ment. Having  thus  made  a  complete  record  of  the 
case,  I  can  watch  the  changes  that  occur  in  the  con* 
dition  of  the  patient,  and  consequently  am  enabled 
to  direct  the. treatment  with  far  greater  success  than 


130 


FEMALE  IRREGULARITIES. 


if  I  trusted  solely  to  memory.  Again,  my  prescrip- 
tions are  prepared  in  my  own  laboratory,  under  my 
special  supervision,  and  I  purchase  only  the  best 
and  purest  of  drugs,  irrespective  of  cost.  I  am  vain 
enough  to  believe,  thousands  all  over  the  country 
owe  the  health  they  now  enjoy  to  the  skill  I  have 
acquired  by  confining  myself  to  these  diseases  as  a 
specialty,  and  the  fidelity  with  which  I  have  tried 
to  address  myself  to  real  conditions. 


Female  Irregularities. 


Female,  owing  to  the  peculiar  and  important 
relations  which  they  sustain,  their  peculiar  organiza- 
tion, and  the  offices  they  perform,  are  subject  to 
many  sufferings  and  ailments  peculiar  to  their  sex. 
Freedom  from  these  contributes  in  no  small  degree 
to  their  happiness  and  welfare,  for  none  can  be  happy 
who  are  ill.  Not  only  so,  but  no  one  of  these 
various  female  complaints  can  long  be  suffered  to 
run  on  without  involving  the  general  health  of  the 
individual  and  ere  long  producing  permanent  sick- 
ness and  premature  decline. 


PATHOLOGY  OF  THE  UTERUS.  131 


The  Pathology  of  the  Uterus  and  its 
Appendages, 

The  sexual  system  of  the  human  female  consists  of 
the  uterus,  and  of  its  internal  and  external  append- 
ages. Before  the  age  of  maturity,  the  uterine  organs 
are  small,  exert  but  little  influence  on  the  constitu- 
tion of  the  female,  and  are  not  liable  to  many  diseas- 
es. From  the  age  of  fourteen  to  fifteen,  when  mens- 
truation is  usually  established,  until  the  middle 
period  of  life,  the  functions  of  the  uterus  are  sub- 
ject to  serious  derangements;  and  at  a  more  advanced 
period  of  life,  its  structures  are  often  destroyed  by 
diseases  of  a  malignant  nature.  In  extreme  old  age, 
the  uterine  system,  without  any  organic  disease,  un- 
dergoes a  great  diminution  of  volume,  and  not  un- 
frequently  the  canals  of  the  Fallopian  tubes  and 
upper  part  of  the  cervix  uteri  become  impervious. 

The  uterus  has  been  found  wanting  in  some 
women ;  others  have  had  the  orifice  closed  by  a  mem- 
brane, or  a  dense  fleslry  substance,  or  the  os  uteri  has 
opened  into  the  rectum.  The  vagina  is  also  some- 
times malformed.  Its  orifice  has  been  impervious 
from  unusual  strength  of  the  hymen,  or  a  consider- 
able portion  of  the  canal  has  been  closed  within  the 
os  externum,  by  a  thick  fleshy  substance.  Cases  have 
been  recorded  in  which  the  whole  vagina  has  been 


132  PATHOLOGY  OF  THE  UTERUS. 

filled  up  with  a  dense  solid  mass.  An  extreme  nar- 
rowness and  shortness  of  the  canal  has  also  been  re- 
peatedly observed,  and  in  some  it  has  been  altogether 
wanting.  In  the  neck  of  the  bladder,  urethra,  and 
parts  situated  around  the  orifice  of  the  Vagina,  many 
varieties  of  malformation  have  occurred. 

We  ascertain  the  presence  of  disease  in  the  uterine 
system  chiefly  by  the  uneasy  sensations  of  the  patient, 
by  the  disordered  functions  of  the  organs,  and  by  the 
changes  in  their  situation,  form,  and  sensibility.  The 
mammae,  stomach,  brain,  and  nervous  systems  are 
all  sympathetically  affected  in  many  of  the  diseases 
of  the  uterus,  and  in  most  of  the  organic  affections 
of  the  organ  and  its  appendages  there  is  severe  burn- 
ing or  lancinating  pain  experienced  in  the  hypogas- 
trium,  or  dull  gnawing  pain  in  the  sacrum,  loins, 
pubis,  and  upper  part  of  the  thighs.  There  are  often 
sickness  and  vomiting,  loaded  tongue,  impaired  ap- 
petite, and  other  signs  of  gastric  derangement.  There 
are  frequently,  also,  dull  pain,  sense  of  giddiness, 
confusion  of  the  head  and  many  irregular  nervous 
affections.  The  mammae  sometimes  become  enlarg- 
ed and  painful,  as  in  the  early  months  of  pregnancy. 
The  functions  of  the  uterus,  more  particularly  men- 
struation and  conception, are  interrupted  or  disturbed 
There  is  frequently  an  altered  secretion  of  the  lining 
membrane  of  the  uterus  and  vagina,  and  instead  of 
the  mucus  which  lubricates  the  passages,  serum,  pus, 
or  blood  are  poured  out  in  greater  or  smaller  quantity 
from  the  parts.  When  a  female  after  the  middle 
period  of  life  suffers  from  an  habitual  discharge  of  a 


PATHOLOGY  OF  THE  UTERUS.  133 

serous,  sanguineous,  or  purulent  nature  from  the  va- 
gina, with  pain  in  the  back  and  irritation  within 
the  pelvis,  an  internal  examination  should  be  made 
to  determine  the  condition  of  the  uterus.  It  is  nec- 
essary for  the  patient  to  recollect  that  there  is  great 
variety  in  the  form  of  the  os-uteri  in  different  women 
without  disease.  In  some  individuals  its  length  is  re- 
markable, and  in  many  women  who  have  had  chil- 
dren, in  whom  labor  has  been  natural,  there  are  ir- 
regularities or  fissures  from  laceration,  where  there 
is  no  organic  disease.  In  some  women,  after  repeated 
labors,  the  lips  of  the  os-uteri  do  not  project,  the  ori- 
fice occupying  directly  the  upper  part  of  the  vagina 
like  a  funnel.  This  we  have  repeatedly  found  to  be 
the  state  of  the  os-uteri  in  aged  females,  whether 
they  have  had  children  or  not.  Sometimes  the  orifice 
is  so  large  as  to  admit  the  point  of  the  finger  and  pro- 
longed backward  and  to  the  left  by  an  oblique  fissure 
with  round  edges.  Not  only  should  the  smoothness 
hardness  and  regularity  of  the  lips  of  the  os-uteri  be 
examined,  but  the  degree  of  dilation  of  the  orifice 
should  be  ascertained,  if  any  exists,  and  whether  it 
is  giving  passage  to  a  tumor  of  any  description.  The 
size  and  weight  of  the  uterus  should  also  be  deter- 
mined, and  whether  the  fluid  covering  the  finger  be 
mucous,  serous,  sanguineous  or  purulent.  The  con- 
dition of  the  vagina  should  likewise  be  accurately  ex- 
plored, for  there  are  few  diseases  of  the  uterus  of  a 
cancerous  or  malignant  nature  in  which  some  change 
is  not  perceptible  m  the  coats  of  the  vagina.  It  is  by 


;34     DISEASES  OF  THE  FALLOPIAN  TUBES. 

an  examination  per  vaginam  that  we  become  ac- 
quainted not  only  with  the  alteration  of  structure  in 
the  os  and  cervix  uteri,  but  with  the  numerous  dis- 
placements to  which  the  organ  is  liable. 

I  now  propose  to  give  a  short  account  oi  some  of 
the  important  diseases. 

1.  Of  the  Fallopian  tubes. 

2.  Of  the  uterus, 

3.  Of  the  vagina  and  organs  situated  around  its 
orifice. 

DISEASES  OF  TH£   FALLOPIAN  TUBES. 

The  Fallopian  tubes  ars  two  slender,  tortuous  ca- 
nals, about  four  or  five  inches  in  length,  which  ex- 
tend between  the  ovaria  and  the  upper  angles  of  the 
uterus.  They  consist,  like  the  uterus,  of  a  perito- 
neal, muscular  and  mucous  membrane,  and  they 
perform  the  office  of  conveying  the  spermatic  fluid 
from  the  uterus  to  the  ovaria, and,  after  impregnation, 
of  carrying  back  the  germ  or  ovum  to  the  cavity  of 
the  uterus.  They  are  liable  to  attacks  of  acute  and 
chronic  inflammation.  The  canals  of  the  tubes  are 
also  sometimes  obstructed,  and  sterility  is  the  result. 

DISEASES  OF  THE  UTERUS. 

The  most  important  diseases  of  the  human  ute- 
ms,  accompanied  with  sensible  alteration  of  struc- 
ture, may  be  divided  into  three  classes:  — 

1.  Those  which  are  produced  by  inflammation  of 
one  or  more  of  the  textures  which  enter  into  the 
composition  of  the  uterus. 

2.  Those  which  arise  from  the  formation  of  tum- 
ors ia  the  rjarietes  of  the  organ,  or  from  enlargement 


INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  UTERUS.  135 

of  the  glands  situated  in  its  orifice,  which  have  no  ten  - 
dency  to  degenerate  into  a  malignant  form,  and  do 
not  contaminate  the  surrounding  structures. 

3.  Those  diseases  which  result  from  a  specific  or 
malignant  action  of  the  uterus,  by  which  its  differ- 
ent textures  and  the  adjacent  viscera  become  disor- 
ganized. 

ACUTE  INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  UTERUS. 

Acute  inflammation  of  the  unimpregnated  uterus, 
or  Acute  Metritis,  is  occasionally  met  with;  the  in- 
flammation may  be  confined  to  the  internal  mucous 
lining  of  the  organ,  to  its  serous  coat,  or  to  its  proper 
tissue;  or,  the  three  may  be  simultaneously  affected. 

causes. — The  unimpregnated  womb  may  be  at- 
tacked with  inflammation  as  a  consequence  of  expos- 
ure to  cold,  menstrual  suppression,  excessive  coition, 
and,  indeed,  the  same  causes  that  induce  congestion 
of  the  organ. 

symptoms. — The  attack  may  be  very  slight  and  of 
short  duration,  or  it  may  be  manifested  suddenly  and 
with  much  severity.  A  deep  seated  pain  of  more  o\ 
less  intensity,  will  be  experienced  in  the  pelvis  or  hyv 
pogastrium,  with  occasional  or  constant  pains  in  th<v 
back,  extending  to  the  thighs,  groins  and  pubic 
bones;  the  pain  is  aggravated  on  deep  pressure  be- 
ing made  over  the  affected  organ,  and  also  by  uri- 
nating, defecating,  sneezing  or  coughing.  The  pulse 
is  quick,  sometimes  full  or  hard;  at  other  times  weak 
and  compressible. 

The  general  symptoms  vary  considerably  ;it  is  gen- 
erally ushered  in  with  rigors,  succeeded  by  febrile 


186  INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  UTERUS. 

symptoms;  there  will  be  heat  and  dryness  of  the  skin, 
constipation, irritable  stomach, dry  and  furred  tongue, 
headache,  slight  delirum,  &c.  Anteversion  of  the 
uterus,  or  retroversion  sometimes  takes  place,  or  the 
breasts  may  become  painful  and  enlarged;  and  fre- 
quently the  patient  will  faint  while  sitting  up.  Men- 
struation is  usually  suspended,  but  not  in  all  cases. 

On  a  vaginal  examination,  the  cervix  will  be  found 
swollen,  tender,  and  more  open  than  natural,  with 
more  or  less  heat.  Ocular  inspection  will  frequent- 
ly discover  small,  whitish,  hard  or  soft  granulations 
,  upon  the  cervix,  with  redness  and  vascularity  of  the 
surrounding  parts,  pain,  discharge,  and  tendency  to 
bleed  upon  the  least  touch,  and  to  which  condition 
the  term  "granular  inflammation"  has  been  applied. 
The  disease  seldom  proves  fatal,  unless  the  inflam- 
mation extends  to  the  peritoneum  and  intestines.  It, 
more  commonly,  passes  into  the  chronic  stage,  occa- 
sioning various  annoying  and  even  serious  consequen- 
ces. Among  its  terminations  may  be  named,  abscess 
induration,  ramollissement,  and  gangrene  of  the 
uterus;  though  it  frequently  terminates  in  resolution. 

Chronic  Inflammation  of  the  Uterus^  or  chronic 
Metritis,  may  be  the  result  of  an  acute  attack,  or  it 
may  exist,  more  commonly,  as  the  primitive  affec- 
tion, developing  itself  very  gradually.  The  inflam- 
mation is  generally  confined  to  the  cervix  and  its 
lining  membrane,  though  the  whole  organ,  or  any 
part  of  it,  may  be  affected. 

Inflammation  of  the  lining  membrane  of  the  uterus 
sometimes  produces  merely  an  increase  of  the  natural 


INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  UTERUS.  137 

secretion  of  the  part;  in  other  cases  pus  is  secreted 
as  in  inflammation  of  tb~.  mucous  membrane  of  other 
organs. 

In  some  women  who  menstruate  with  pain,  there  is 
a  membrarle  some  what  like  the  decidua,  though  es- 
sentially different  in  structure,  discharged  from  the 
cavity  of  the  uterus  at  each  monthly  period.  Women 
who  are  afflicted  with  this  peculiar  disease  of  the  ut- 
erus suffer  more  or  less  uneasiness  in  the  region  of 
the  organ  in  the  intervals  of  menstruation,  and  they 
seldom  become  pregnant.  The  false  membrane  is 
probably  formed  between  the  monthly  periods,  by  a 
peculiar  and  specific  inflammation  of  the  mucous  coat 
of  the  uterus.  The  symptoms  would  lead  to  the  infer- 
ence that  the  substance  of  the  uterus  is  also  afflicted. 

Causes. — Chronic  inflammation  of  the  uterus  may 
be  occasioned  by  anything  which  will  maintain  a  con- 
stant excitement  or  irritation  of  the  organ,  as,  ex- 
posure to  sudden  changes  of  temperature, severe  labor 
excessive  coition,  masturbation,  stimulating  diet, 
erotic  desires,  frequent  child-bearing,  menstrual  de- 
rangements, abortions,  blows  externally, improper  use 
of  cathartics,  pessaries,  vaginal  injections  or  emmen- 
agogues,  dwelling  in  damp  situations, constriction  of 
the  abdomen  by  tight  dresses,  metastasis  of  rheumatic 
affections,  prolcnged  celibacy,  alcoholic  drinks,  etc.; 
it  frequently  comes  on  without  any  assignable  cause, 
and  sometimes  follows  as  a  consequence  of  some  fe- 
brile disease  or  inflammation  of  neighboring  organs. 

Symptom^. — The  symptoms  of  this  disease  vary 
very  much,  more  especially  those  of  a  sympathetic 


138        INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  UTERUS. 

character.  In  some  cases,  the  only  symptoms  will 
be  a  mental  depression,  with  slight  and  irregular 
teucorrhceal  attacks.  In  others  there  will  be  more 
or  less  disturbance  of  the  menstrual  function,  some 
difficulty  or  distress  in  evacuating  the  rectum  and 
bladder  with  slight  pains  in  the  region  of  the  uter- 
us; a  sense  of  weight  and  dragging  in  the  pelvis,  heat, 
leucorrhceal  discharge,  tenderness  of  the  cervix, 
weakness  of  the  back,  etc.  The  sympathetic  symp- 
toms are  pain  in  the  head,  derangement  of  the  stom- 
ach and  digestive  functions,  palpitation  of  the  heart, 
pains  of  the  breast,  sense  of  oppression,  formication 
in  the  legs,  cramps,  hysterical  attacks,  nervous  dis- 
orders, restlessness,  etc.  And  these  symptoms  may 
be  met  with  in  every  degree,  from  a  bare  perception 
of  them,  to  severe  suffering  and  distress. 

Upon  making  a  vaginal  examination,  more  or  less 
heat  in  the  cervix  may  be  present,  or  it  may  be  of  na- 
tural temperature,  the  body  of  the  uterus,  as  well  as 
the  cervix,  may  be  augmented  in  their  volume  from 
congestion,  or  they  may  be  of  normal  size;  when  the 
cervix  is  affected  there  is  pain  or  tenderness  of  some 
portion  of  it  on  pressure,  and  the  os  uteri  is  usually 
softer  and  more  open  than  natural.  When  the  body 
of  the  uterus  is  enlarged,  the  increased  weight  may 
be  ascertained  by  elevating  and  poising  it  on  the  fin- 
ger. When  the  cervix  is  observed  through  the  spec- 
ulum, its  redness  is  increased,  and  many  of  its  blood- 
vessels may,  in  some  cases,  be  seen.  Chronic  inflam- 
mation of  the  uterus  may  terminate  in  resolution,  or 
it  may  continue,  giving  rise  to  ulceration,  especially 


ULCERATION  OF  THE  UTERUS.  139 

A  the  cervix.  The  malignant  affections  of  this  or- 
gan are  often  preceded  for  a  longer  or  shorter  time 
by  a  chronic  inflammatory  condition  of  some  portion 
of  it;  but  it  is  doubtful  whether  this  condition  is,  in 
reality,  the  cause  of  the  subsequent  mischief,  except 
it  be  improperly  treated,  or  of  long  continuance. 
Obstinate  chronic  uterine  inflammation  in  a  scrofu- 
lous female,  or  in  one  whose  relatives  have  suffered 
from  a  cancerous  disease  of  the  part,  must  be  watch- 
ed with  great  care  and  anxiety. 

ULCERATION  OF  THE  UTERUS. 

Chronic  Inflammation  sometimes  terminates  in 
resolution,  but  usually  results  in  ulceration  of  the 
neck  of  the  womb. 

In  ulceration  of  the  os  and  cervix  uteri,  there  is  a 
loss  of  the  epithelium  covering  the  cervix,  as  well  as 
a  disorganization,  to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  of  the 
subjacent  papidae.  The  ulceration  may  be  limited, 
exist  in  patches,  or  occupy  the  entire  external  sur- 
face of  the  cervix,  passing  within  the  lips  of  the  os 
uteri.  On  lightly  passing  the  finger  over  them,  a 
slight  depression  will  be  felt,  of  greater  or  less  ex- 
tent, the  borders  of  which  will  be  regular  or  irregu- 
lar, and  well  defined;  sometimes  the  parts  will  be 
very  tender,  and  bleed  upon  being  touched.  Upon 
removing  the  finger,  an  inodorous,  whitish  or  yellow- 
ish substance  will  be  observed  upon  it,  occasionally 
tinged  with  blood.  The  irregularly  bordered  ulcer  is 
stated  to  be  indicative  of  a  syphilitic  taint, but  I  have 
frequently  observed  a  regularly  defined  margin  in 


140  ULCERATION  OF  THE  UTERUS. 

cases  connected  with  this  infection.  When  the  ul- 
ceration is  very  superficial,  the  finger  may  not  detect 
it.  The  employment  of  the  speculum  will  discover 
one  large  ulcerated  surface,  or  many  smaller  ones  of 
various  sizes,  with  well-defined  edges,  and  reddish, 
granular  surface,  the  smaller  ulcerations  coalescing 
and  forming  larger  ones,  giving  to  the  surface  of  the 
os  an  eaten,  corroded  appearance.  The  os  is  general- 
ly open  more  than  natural. 

In  ulceration,  the  parts  may  in  some  cases  be  ex- 
quisitely tender,  while  in  others  there  will  be  but 
very  slight  increase  of  sensibility,  or  perhaps  none 
at  all.  Erosion  and  ulceration  are  very  common  in 
strumous  individuals  laboring  under  leucorrhoea; 
there  is  a  muco-purulent  discharge,  which  has  no 
odor,  unless  it  has  been  detained  for  some  time  in 
the  vagina,  when  it  has  a  smell  like  that  of  sulphur- 
etted hydrogen.  Cleanliness  of  the  parts  will  re- 
move this  fetor. 

An  open  condition  of  the  os,  the  cervix  being  swol 
len  and  spongy,  with  heat,  tenderness  and  some  dis- 
charge of  blood,  frequently  follows  irritations  pro- 
duced and  continued  by  the  use  of  pessaries,  etc. 

Symptoms. — There  is  generally  an  almost  constant 
discharge,  usually  more  or  less  profuse,  of  a  ropy 
consistency,  transparent  or  semi-transparent,  and 
communicating  no  stain,  but  merely  a  starch-like 
stiffness  to  linen  upon  which  it  has  dried.  It  has  al- 
kaline reagency,but  when  it  descends  into  the  vagina 
and  is  acted  upon  by  the  acid  discharge  of  this  canal, 
it  becomes  coagulated  and  opaque,  and  loses  its  vis- 


ULCERATION  OF  THE  UTERUS.  14.1 

cidity,  resembling  very  closely  the  vaginal  discharge. 
When  ulceration  is  present,  the  discharge  will  be 
muco-purulent,  and  of  a  greenish  or  brownish  tinge; 
and  sometimes  it  will  be  more  or  less  bloody.  Occa- 
sionally, the  blood  discharged  from  the  cervix  may  be 
so  constant  and  profuse,  as  to  be  mistaken  for  men- 
orrhagia.  In  connection  with  this  discharge  will 
exist  a  variet}-  of  local  and  constitutional  symptoms, 
from  those  of  a  mild  character  to  those  of  great  se- 
verity. Paleness  or  sallowness  of  complexion,  occa- 
sional or  constant  weakness  in  the  back  and  loins, 
with  more  or  less  pain;  heaviness,  with  bearing  down 
or  dragging  sensations,  menstrual  derangements,  as 
dysmenorrhea,  amenorrhea,  menorrhagia,  etc.,  are 
usually  complained  of.  In  some  more  active  cases 
there  may  be  considerable  heat  and  itching  of  the 
parts;  and  the  discharge  may  be  acrid,  excoriating 
the  external  parts  with  which  it  comes  in  contact. 
The  bladder  may  become  irritable,  giving  rise  to 
difficult  urination,  or  retention  of  urine,  scalding, 
etc.    Coition  is  frequently  very  painful. 

Debility,  fatigue  on  the  least  exertion,  indisposi- 
tion to  exercise,  torpid  liver,  deranged  appetite,  acid 
stomach,  disagreeable  eructations,  constipation,  more 
or  less  severe  headache,  eruptions  on  the  forehead 
and  face,  hollowness  of  the  eyes,  swelling  of  the  eye- 
lids with  a  dark  appearance  encircling  them,  flabbi- 
ness  of  the  breasts,  palpitation  of  the  heart,  colicy 
pains,  coldness  of  the  extremities,  flashes  of  heat, 
vertigo,  faintness,  hysteria,  indifference  to  surround- 
ing objects,  &c,  are  among  the  more  common  gener- 


142  TUMORS. 

al  symptoms.  When  there  is  an  accompanying  relax- 
ation of  the  vaginal  walls,  prolapsus  of  the  uterus 
will  be  present,  rendering  the  disease  more  difficult 
of  cure.  Sometimes  the  tongue  will  be  pale,  flabby, 
and  showing  the  indentations  of  the  teeth  upon  its 
edges,  especially  when  amenorrhea  is  present.  Ster- 
ility is  frequently  due  to  ulceration  of  the  womb,  es- 
pecially when  amenorrhea  or  dysmenorrhea  is  present 
with  a  debilitated,  anemic  condition  of  the  system,; 
and  this  is  almost  invariably  the  case,  when  the  dys' 
menorrhea  is  attended  with  membranous  exudations. 

This  is  certainly  a  very  fortunate  circumstance, 
since  when  conception  does  take  place,  it  tends  to 
greatly  aggravate  the  disease,  and  in  some  instances 
a  fatal  termination  is  inevitable. 

When  the  constitutional  symptoms  that  usually  ac- 
company ulceration  of  the  neck  of  the  womb  are  but 
slight,  the  discharge  from  the  vagina  is  frequently 
regarded  by  the  patient  as  a  simple  leucorrhcea.  In 
every  case  where  the  discharge  from  the  vagina  has 
existed  for  some  time,  and  the  ordinary  means  em- 
ployed for  its  cure  have  failed  to  give  permanent  re^ 
lief,  there  is  sufficient  reason  for  suspecting  inflam- 
mation or  ulceration  of  the  neck  of  the  womb,  that 
must,  sooner  or  later  produce  serious  results. 

TUMORS    AND   ENLARGEMENTS    WHICH     ARE    NOT  OF  A 
MALIGNANT  NATURE. 

The  fibrous  tumor  is  usually  of  a  globular  form, 
and  varies  greatly  in  size.  It  has  generally  a  cartil- 
aginous and  fibrous  structure,  and  the  fibres  are  often 


TUMORS. 


143 


disposed  in  a  concentric  or  converging  manner.  This 
tumor  has  sometimes  a  granular  appearance,  or  seems 
to  consist  of  congeries  of  smaller  tumors,  of  different 
densities, each  having  a  thin  capsule  or  cellular  mem- 
brane. When  large,  the  tumors  are  often  unequal, 
lobulated,  or  divided  by  deep  fissures,  and  arteries 
and  veins  of  considerable  magnitude  can  be  traced 
into  its  substance.  Cavities  containing  a  bloody  or 
dark  colored  gelatinous  fluid  are  sometimes  formed 
in  the  central  parts  of  the  tumor,  by  a  process  of 
softening,  which  its  substance  undergoes. 

The  symptoms  and  aggravations  which  these  con- 
cretions of  the  uterus  produce,  do  not  affect  this  or- 
gan exclusively.  Their  situation  with  respect  to  the 
bladder  may  greatly  derange  its  functions.  The  fol- 
lowing observations  will  show  that  difficulty  in  pass- 
ing urine,  and  even  retention  of  urine,  may  be  oc- 
casioned by  the  presence  of  a  concretion  in  the  uter- 
us. A  woman  seventy-two  years  of  age  died  at 
Iville  in  1688.  She  had  been  affiicted  for  fifteen  or 
twenty  years  with  difficulty  in  voiding  the  urine,  in- 
supportable pains  in  the  region  of  the  loins,  os pubis 
and  perineum.  The  cause  of  the  symptoms  was  re- 
ferred to  the  kidneys  or  bladder,  but  accidentally 
the  uterus  was  examined  and  it  appeared  to  be  scir- 
rhous.  A  large  hard  stone  filled  its  whole  cavity, 
which  was  considerably  dilated  by  this  foreign  body. 
The  outer  layer  of  this  stone  was  of  friable  matter, 
which  was  easily  detached. 

Mr.  Louis  relates  the  case  of  another  woman,  six- 
ty-two years  of  age,  who  died  of  a  disease  of  the  chest 


244 


TUMORS. 


in  the  Salpetriere,  on  the  1 6th  of  April,  1744.  On 
opening  the  body  the  uterus  was  found  as  large  as  a 
hen's  egg,  and  low  down  in  the  vagina. 

Salius  relates  the  case  of  a  nun  sixty  years  of  age 
who  suffered  violent  pains  in  the  uterus  for  several 
months.  The  pains,  which  were  alleviated  by  no 
remedies,  ceased  after  the  escape  ol  a  concretion  the 
size  of  a  duck's  egg. 

About  the  year  1070,  in  a  village  of  the  Soisson* 
nais,  according  to  the  chronicle  of  the  Antonin  aa 
quoted  by  Louis,  a  pregnant  woman,  who  had  been 
three  weeks  in  labor,  was  delivered  of  three  stones. 
One  was  the  size  of  the  goose's  egg,  the  other  was 
as  large  as  a  hen's  egg,  and  the  third  was  like  a  nut. 
The  child  immediately  followed,  and  the  woman 
was  freed  from  her  pains. 

Sometimes  we  find  only  one  tumor  present  in  the 
walls  of  the  uterus;  at  other  times  several  are  met 
with  of  different  sizes,  and  not  unfrequently  they  are 
combined  with  cysts  and  tumors  of  the  ovary.  They 
have  no  disposition  to  ulcerate,  nor  to  degenerate 
into  a  malignant  form,  though  they  are  not  unfre- 
quently observed  in  individuals  who  have  cancerous 
affections  of  the  uterus,  mammae,  liver  and  other  or- 
gans. They  have  seldom,  if  ever,  been  observed  be- 
fore the  age  of  puberty,  and  Bayle  affirms  that  they 
are  most  frequently  met  with  in  the  bodies  of  those 
women  in  whom  the  physical  signs  of  virginity  are 
present,  that  in  twenty  out  of  one  hundred  women 
taken  indiscriminately  after  the  middle  period  of  life, 
the  fibrous  tumor  more  or  less  developed,  is  found 
on  dissection  imbedded  in  the  walls  of  the  uterus. 


CANCEROUS  DISEASES  OF  THE  UTERUS.  145 

Before  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century,  few 
facts  of  any  importance  had  been  ascertained  respect- 
ing the  origin  and  structure  of  the  polypus  of  the 
uterus.  The  older  writers  included  under  the  term 
polypus  all  the  different  tumors  of  the  uterus  which 
have  now  been  described,  the  greater  number  of  the 
organic  affections  of  the  os  and  cervix  uteri  of  a  ma- 
lignant nature,  and  also  fleshy  moles  or  ova  in  a  mor- 
bid state.  The  confusion  and  obscurity  in  which 
the  pathology  of  uterine  polypi  has  so  long  remained 
may  be  attributed  in  a  great  measure  to  the  circum- 
stance that  few  opportunities  have  been  enjoyed  of 
investigating  this  structure  before  it  has  been  de- 
stroyed by  inflammation  and  sloughing  produced  by 
artificial  or  natural  means. 

OF  THE    MALIGNANT  OR  CANCEROUS  DISEASES  OF 
THE  UTERUS. 

Scirrhus,  carcinoma,  cauliflower  excrescence  of  the 
os  uteri,  corroding  or  phagedenic  ulcer  of  the  cervix 
uteri,  are  some  of  the  terms  which  have  been  em- 
ployed by  different  authors  to  designate  the  varie- 
ties of  malignant  or  cancerous  diseases  of  the  uterus. 
That  there  is  no  essential  difference  between  these 
affections  is  proved  by  the  fact  that  the  morbid  al- 
terations of  structure  by  which  they  are  character- 
ized are  sometimes  found  blended  together  in  the 
same  uterus,  and  they  all  have  this  common  tenden- 
cy, that  they  invariably  proceed  after  a  longer  or 
shorter  period  to  destroy  the  different  textures  of 
the  uterus  and  the  adjacent  viscera. 


146    CANCEROUS  DISEASES  OF  THE  UTERUS. 

When  the  os  uteri  {$  affected  with  that  form  oi 
malignant  disease  termed  carcinoma,  it  generally  be- 
comes thick,  hard,  irregular,  and  the  lips  are  everted 
and  painful  on  pressure.  One  or  both  lips  of  the  os 
uteri  become  ^projecting,  or  they  are  changed  into 
hard,  irregular  knobs  or  tumors  which  frequently 
bleed  when  touched.  In  the  greater  number  of  cases 
of  malignant  disease,  the  os  and  cervix  uteri  are  the 
parts  first  affected,  but  the  opinion  is  incorrect  that 
the  cervix  uteri  is  invariably  the  part  first  attacked, 
and  that  the  disease  commences  in  the  glands  of  the 
part.  In  some  cases  the  lining  membrane  of  the 
fundus  or  body  of  the  uterus  is  extensively  disorgan- 
ized by  malignant  disease  before  any  change  has 
taken  place  in  the  lower  portion  of  the  uterus.  The 
cavity  of  the  uterus  may  be  distended  with  a  large, 
hard,  carcinomatous  tumor,  adhering  to  the  fundus, 
or  with  a  soft  fungus  mass  growing  from  the  lining 
membrane  of  the  body  of  the  uterus,  while  the  os 
and  cervix  have  undergone  no  sensible  alteration  in 
structure. 

Causes. — It  is  often  an  hereditary  disease.  It  is  not 
produced  by  inflammation,  but  inflammation  is  often 
excited  in  its  progress,  and  when  produced  hastens 
the  fatal  termination  of  the  affection.  Mechanical 
injury  has  been  enumerated  among  the  causes  of 
malignant  disease  of  the  uterus;  but  we  have  never 
met  with  a  case  where  it  could  be  distinctly  referred 
to  violence  of  any  kind. 

A  great  part  of  my  practice  has  been  in  the  treat- 
ment of  this  difficult  and  obscure  class  of  diseases, 


FALLING  OF  THE  WOMB.  147 

having  treated  thousands  of  cases,  I  feel  myself  com- 
petent to  cure  all  curable  cases,  and  for  the  encour- 
agement of  those  afflicted  I  will  say  I  have  cured 
many  cases  given  up  as  hopeless  by  other  physicians. 

PROLAPSUS  UTERI  OR  FALLING  OF  THF  WOMB. 

Among  the  various  displacements  of  the  womb, 
there  is  none  so  common  as  prolapsus,  or  falling  of 
the  womb,  by  which  is  meant  a  condition  of  this  or- 
gan in  which  it  is  much  lower  than  it  should  be.  It 
is  more  generally  met  with  among  married  women, 
especially  those  who  have  borne  children,  but  may 
occur  among  the  unmarried.  It  is  sometimes  of  a 
most  obstinate  character,  resisting  all  remedial  meas- 
ures,  and  proving  a  source  of  suffering  to  the  femal. 
for  the  remainder  of  her  life.  Most  cases  are  curable 
however. 

Symptoms. — Prolapsus  of  the  womb  varies  from  a 
very  slight  descent  below  the  natural  position  of  the 
uterus,  to  its  projection  through  the  external  parts, 
occasions  alterations  in  the  relative  situation  of  the 
neighboring  organs,  from  which  many  unpleasant 
symptoms  arise.  It  generally  comes  on  with  a  feel- 
ing of  fullness  in  the  pelvis;  a  weight  and  bearing 
down  in  the  parts,  with  a  sensation  of  dragging  which 
extends  from  the  naval  to  the  loins;  pains  in  the 
back  extending  around  into  the  groins;  considerable 
distress  standing  or  walking;  the  bowels  are  usually 
constipated;  and  the  urine  will  be  unnaturally  hot, 
and  pass  with  more  or  less  difficulty.  Most  of  these 
symptoms  are  relieved  when  the  patient  lies  down, 


148  ANTEVERSION  OF  THE  UTERUS. 


Leucorrhoea,  excessive  menstruation,  or  painful 
menstruation,  are  frequent  attendants  upon  prolap- 
sus of  the  womb. 

From  its  intimate  relation  with  the  womb,  the 
stomach  soon  becomes  deranged,  the  appetite  is  ir- 
regular or  deficient;  the  stomach  and  bowels  lose 
their  tone;  rolling  of  wind  in  the  bowels, accompanied 
with  a  rumbling  noise,  is  common;  the  spirits  become 
depressed  and  the  patient  loses  all  desire  for  exercise, 
employment,  or  even  life.  The  symptoms  common 
to  this  complaint  are  varied  and  numerous;  so  much 
so  that  a  careless  practitioner  will  be  led  to  suspect 
diseases  of  various  other  organs,  which  these  fre- 
quently simulate. 

Causes. — Falling  of  the  womb  is  owing  to  a  relax- 
ation and  want  of  tone  of  the  vagina,  and  of  the  lig- 
aments which  sustain  this  organ.  This  may  arise  from 
over-exertion,  straining  at  lifting,  coughing,  violent 
vomiting,  etc,  it  may  be  the  result  of  many  child- 
bearings,  or  repeated  floodings,  menorrhagia,  leu- 
corrhoea, and  frequently  occurs  from  a  general  debil- 
ity of  the  system.  It  may  take  place  from  getting  up 
too  soon  after  delivery,  and  may  also  happen  dur- 
ing pregnancy  or  even  parturition.  It  is  sometimes 
complicated  with  stone  in  the  bladder  or  with  poly- 
pus of  the  womb.  A  common  cause  is  inflammation 
or  ulceration  of  the  womb  itself. 

ANTE  VERSION  OF  THE  UTERUS. 

Anteversion  of  the  womb  is  by  no  means  a  common 
displacement,  and  rarely,  if  ever,  occurs  during  preg- 


ANTEVERSION  OF  THE  UTERUS.  149 

nancy  except  at  at  an  early  period.  It  may  be  grad- 
ually occasioned  by  pelvic  tumors  pressing  upon  the 
fundus  and  forcing  it  downward  anteriorly;  by  relax- 
ation of  the  ligaments,  owing  to  previous  pregnan- 
cies, or,  it  may  come  on  by  exertion  of  a  sudden 
force  whilst  the  bladder  is  empty,  as  falls,  violent 
and  sudden  muscular  efforts,  etc.  It  has  also  been 
occasioned  by  fecal  accumulations  in  the  rectum, 
persistent  diarrhoea,  and  by  hypertrophy  of  the  round 
ligaments  resulting  from  previous  inflammation. 

Symptoms. — The  symptoms  will  not  be  so  well 
marked  in  cases  where  the  ante  vers  ion  comes  on 
slowly,  as  in  those  where  it  is  of  sudden  occurrence; 
and  sometimes  the  only  symptoms  complained  of  will 
be  an  uneasiness  of  the  part,  with  more  or  less  bear- 
ing down,  and  perhaps  leucorrhcea.  There  will  be  a 
sense  of  fullness,  weight,  uneasiness,  and  bearing 
down,  with  pain  in  the  hypogastric  region  and  about 
the  perineum,  as  well  as  in  the  back  and  thighs;  a 
frequent  desire  to  [urinate,  which,  may  be  effected 
with  more  or  less  difficulty;  the  symptoms  are  re- 
lieved on  lying  down,  but  much  increased  on  assum- 
ing the  erect  posture,  as  in  standing,  walking,  rid- 
ing, etc.  These  symptoms  will  be  more  or  less  sev- 
ere, according  to  the  completeness  of  the  version.  I^eu- 
corrhcea  may  accompany  the  accident,  and  there  may 
be  a  deranged  condition  of  the  catamenial  function. 

These  symptoms  can  only  lead  us  to  suspect  some 
disorder  of  the  pelvic  organs;  a  vaginal  examination 
will  confirm  our  suspicions  and  reveal  the  true  char- 
acter of  the  malady.  The  uterus  will  be  felt  blocking 


150         RETROVERSION  01*  THE  UTERUS. 

up  the  pelvic  cavity,  the  fundus  being  tilted  over  an- 
teriorly so  as  to  press  upon  the  neck  of  the  bladder, 
while  the  cervix  uteri  is  thrown  backward  so  as  to 
press  upon  the  rectum,  the  long  diameter  of  the 
uterus  lying  in  an  antero-posterior  direction. 

Discrimination . — Anteversion  of  the  uterus  may 
be  determined  from  retroversion  by  the  fundus  being 
thrown  anteriorly  instead  of  posteriorly;  from  cal- 
culus in  the  bladder,  or  vaginal  cystocele,  by  passing 
a  catheter  into  the  bladder,  and  feeling  the  point  of 
in  the  supposed  tumor  by  a  finger  introduced  into 
the  vagina;  from  pelvic  tumors,  by  the  presence  of 
the  os  and  cervix  uteri;  although  when  these  tum- 
ors produce  the  displacement  it  may  be  difficult  to 
detect  them;  and  from  an  ovarian  tumor,  by  its 
sensibility,  by  the  presence  of  the  os  and  cervix  and 
by  its  history.  When  the  cervix  cannot  be  readily 
reached  with  the  finger,  or  the  os  uteri  is  pressed 
closely  npon  the  sacrum,  an  examination  per  rectum 
may  enable  us  to  complete  the  diagnosis. 

RETROVERSION   OF  THE  UTERUS. 

Retroversion  of  the  uterus  is  exactly  the  reverse 
of  anteversion,  and  is  much  a  more  frequent  accident; 
it  is  occasioned  by  a  relaxed  condition  of  the  round 
ligaments.  These  ligaments  are  so  attached  to  the 
fundus  of  the  womb  and  the  pelvis  as  to  prevent  the 
former  from  falling  downward  and  backward  to  any 
extent,  unless  they  are  very  much  relaxed.  This  re- 
laxation may  be  produced  by  several  causes;  a  very 
common  one  is  a  retention  of  the  urine,  which  dis- 


RETROFLEXION  OF  THE  UTERUS.  151 

tending  the  bladder,  this  organ  presses  upon  the  fun- 
dus and  carries  it  downward  and  backward,  placing 
the  round  ligaments  on  the  stretch; a  daily  persistence 
in  this  retention  will  soon  cause  relaxation  of  the 
elongated  ligaments,  and  consequent  retroversion. 
Females,  in  traveling,  are  especially  liable  to  this  ac- 
cident, from  a  neglect  to  empty  the  bladder;  this  or- 
gan becomes  enlarged  from  being  filled  with  long- 
retained  urine,  when  a  loud  laugh,  a  sneeze,  a  spring 
from  a  coach  or  a  car,  or  any  sudden  jar,  etc.,  will 
be  sufficient  to  finish  the  mischief  by  retroverting 
the  womb;  and  it  is  more  certain  to  occur  if  the  pel- 
vis be  large  and  the  woman  be  two  months  advanced 
in  pregnancy.  Retroversion  may  come  on  suddenly, 
but  more  frequently  manifests  itself  by  degrees. 

Symptoms. — There  will  be  pains  low  down  in  the 
abdomen,  and  in  the  lumbo-sacral  region,  increased 
upon  motion.  The  urine  will  be  voided  with  diffi- 
culty, or  not  passed  at  all;  there  will  be  constipation, 
with  tenesmus,  and  difficulty  in  defecating.  Some- 
times  the  urine  can  be  passed  without  any  trouble. 
The  symptoms,  in  other  respects,  will  very  much  re- 
semble those  of  anteversion. 

A  vaginal  examination  is  always  necessary;  the 
fundus  of  the  uterus  will  be  found  in  the  hollow  of 
the  sacrum,  while  the  cervix  will  be  toward  the  pu- 
bic arch,  and  sometimes  above  it;  perhaps  pressing 
upon  the  urethra. 

RETROFLEXION    OF  THE  UTERUS 

Is  a  bent  condition  of  the  womb  upon  its  cervix 


152"        INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  OVARIES. 

similar  to  that  of  antiflexion,  but  differing  from  it 
in  the  uterine  tumor  being  found  on  the  posterior 
face  of  the  cervix,  while  no  enlargement  can  be  fell 
on  its  anterior  face.  The  fundus  is  bent  over  into  the 
hollow  of  the  sacrum,  while  the  cervix  and  os  uteri 
are  nearly  in  the  normal  position.  The  same  rules, 
with  the  above  exception,  may  be  adopted  for  its 
diagnosis,  as  named  for  antevers.ion. 

INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  OVARIES. 

The  ovaries  are  not  so  subject  to  attacks  of  disease 
as  the  uterus;  probably  owing  to  their  peculiar  struc- 
ture, and  freedom  from  exposure  to  morbid  or  irri- 
tating discharges,  as  well  as  from  direct  mechanical 
injuries.  They  are,  however,  liable  to  the  same 
maladies  as  the  tubes  and  womb,  some  of  which  are 
exceedingly  rare.  The  more  common  affections  of 
the  ovaries  will  only  be  noticed. 

ACUTE  INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  OVARIES 

May  occur  in  the  unimpregnated  state,  but  is  more 
generally  associated  with  inflammation  of  other  or- 
gans of  the  pelvis,  following  an  abortion  or  delivery. 
More  commonly  only  one  ovary  is  affected  at  the 
same  time.  Menstruation  is  usually  suspended,  if 
the  attack  occurs  during  the  monthly  period.  The 
same  causes  which  produce  inflammation  of  the  ute- 
rus, tubes  or  peritoneum  may  give  rise  to  ovaritis. 
The  local  and  constitutional  symptoms  will  be  sim- 
ilar to  those  of  inflammation  of  the  tubes,  unless 
there  is  an  extension  of  the  inflammation,  when  there 
will  be  additional  corresponding  symptoms;  thus,  if 


«        INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  OVARIES.    '  153 

the  disease  spreads  to  the  bladder,  there  will  be  a  fre- 
quent desire  to  pass  water,  with  scalding  and  pain 
during  urination;  if  it  extends  to  the  peritoneum  the 
pain  in  the  abdomen  will  be  more  severe,  as  well  as 
the  general  symptoms;  and  there  will  be  sometimes  a 
painful  bearing  down  sensation  in  the  pelvis,  with  a 
desire  to  evacuate  the  rectum,  almost  amounting  to 
a  tenesmus.  A  vaginal  examination  will  not  throw 
any  light  upon  the  disease;  but  the  finger  introdnced 
into  the  rectum  can,  generally,  be  readily  carried  to 
the  side  of  the  womb,  where  the  ovary,  if  inflamed, 
will  be  felt  swollen  and  more  or  less  painful  on  pres- 
sure. 

Acute  inflammation  of  the  ovaries  may  terminate 
by  resolution,  or  by  suppuration;  or  it  may  extend  to 
the  neighboring  peritoneal  tissue,  and  prove  fatal;  or 
it  may  result  in  chronic  inflammation.  Sometimes 
softening  of  the  ovaries  ensues.  The  prognosis  in  all 
ovarian  diseases  is  unfavorable,  from  the  fact  that 
they  generally  remain  undiscovered  or  unsuspected, 
until  the  favorable  period  of  treatment  has  passed 
away. 

CHRONIC  INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  OVARIES 

May  be  the  result  of  the  acute  form,  or  may  appear 
independently  of  it.  The  symptoms  are  similar,  but 
not  so  marked  as  in  the  acute  form.  There  will  be  a 
dull  pain  in  the  affected  part,  which  may  be  slightly 
increased  by  motion.  The  catamenia  may  be  sus- 
pended or  deficient,  and  the  constitutional  symptoms 
will  hardly  be  observed,  except  when  the  disease  is 


154 


MENSTRUATION. 


approaching  an  unfavorable  termination.  An  exam- 
ination per  rectum  should  always  be  made,  the  same 
as  in  the  acute  form.  The  termination,  as  well  as 
the  pathological  appearance,  will  be  the  same  as  those 
named  in  Acute  Ovaritis. 

When  either  the  acute  or  chronic  form  of  ovaritis 
is  about  to  terminate  in  abscess,  the  formation  of  pus 
will  be  known  by  the  rigors,  the  increased  pain,  heat, 
weight,  swelling  and  throbbing  of  the  parts,  the 
quickness  and  softness  of  the  pulse,  and  the  dimin- 
ution of  the  constitutional  suffering.  The  abscess 
commonly  points  at  some  spot  in  the  iliac  region,  and 
the  pus  may  escape  spontaneously  or  by  an  artificial 
opening  through  the  walls  of  the  abdomen,  or  it  may 
be  discharged  through  the  bladder,  rectum  or  uterus. 
Sometimes  it  may  be  emptied  into  the  peritoneal  cav- 
ity, occasioning  a  speedy  death;  or,  the  subsequent 
discharge  of  matter  into  the  cavity  may  be  for  a  time 
prevented,  by  an  adhesion  taking  place  between  the 
ovary  and  some  of  the  adjacent  parts. 

MENSTRUATION. 

It  is  not  intended  in  the  present  article  to  discuss 
the  various  theories  of  this  important  function  of  the 
human  uterus,  which  have  at  various  times  prevailed. 
It  will  be  sufficient  to  state  generally  that  we  consider 
the  menstrual  discharge  to  be  the  consequence  of  a 
peculiar  periodical  condition  of  the  blood  vessels  of 
the  uterus,  fitting  it  for  impregnation. 

The  functions  of  menstruation  last,  on  the  average, 
for  about  thirty  years  of  the  life  of  a  woman,  begin- 


MENSTRUATION. 


155 


ning  at  puberty  and  ending  somewhere  between 
forty  and  fifty  years  of  age,  unless  interrupted  J)y 
disease,  by  pregnancy  or  by  suckling.  During  this 
large  proportion  of  female  life,  there  is  a  great  lia- 
bility to  derangements,  of  one  form  or  another,  in 
the  menstrual  process,  and  to  which  much  impor- 
tance is  attributed,  though  from  some  remains  of  the 
old  doctrine  that  the  menses  were  the  outlets  of 
1 '  peccant  humors, ' '  more  anxiety  is  generally  ex- 
pressed in  cases  of  diminished  or  suspended  dis- 
charge than  in  those  where  it  is  unnaturally  profuse. 

For  a  very  considerable  period  before  puberty, 
often  two  or  three  years,  symptoms  of  the  approach- 
ing important  change  in  the  system  may  be  de- 
tected. It  is  not  at  all  uncommon  to  meet  at  this 
age  very  obstinate  disorders,  such  as  headaches, 
epileptic  fits  or  cutaneous  affections;  and  upon  find- 
ing the  usual  plans  of  treatment  fail,  some  medical 
men  are  in  the  habit  of  prophesying  a  cure  when 
menstruation  is  established. 

If  the  young  trees  in  your  orchard  need  pruning, 
so  the  young  maiden  at  this  time  needs  the  attention 
of  her  mother,  and  if  the  symptoms  alluded  to  con- 
tinue, scientific  medical  advice  should  be  obtained. 
It  is  not  often  necessary  to  use  much  medication, 
but  the  little  needed  is  indispensable,  if  you  wish 
the  girl  to  become  a  healthy  wife  and  mother.  The 
mother,  if  a  close  observer,  can  state  the  case  to  me, 
or,  when  far  from  the  city,  write  it  out  in  plain  detail. 

When  the  function  of  menstruation  has  once  been 
fairly  established,  it  may  become  disordered  in  seve- 


156 


AMEXORRHOEA. 


ral  waj-s,  each  forming  distinct  classes  of  diseases. 
Menstruation  may  be  faulty  in  respect  to  the  quan- 
tity of  the  discharge,  the  quality  of  the  discharge, 
the  regularity  of  its  appearance,  the  time  of  its  du- 
ration and  the  degree  of  pain  with  which  the  process 
is  accompanied.  When  the  discharge  has  been  in 
any  way  suppressed  in  a  peculiar  condition  of  health, 
what  has  been  called  vicarious  menstruation  has 
sometimes  periodically  occurred  from  other  parts  of 
the  body,  the  stomach,  the  lungs,  the  bowels.  The 
diseases  connected  with  menstruation  are  Amenorr- 
hoea,  Dysmenorrhoea  and  Menorrhagia. 

AMENORRHOEA. 

Amenorrhoea  has  usually  been  divided  into  reten- 
tion and  suppression  of  the  menses.  Under  this 
head  we  shall  also  consider  vicarious  menstruation. 

I. — Emansio,  or  retention  of  the  menses.  The 
non-appearance  of  the  menstrual  discharge  at  the 
usual  age  does  not,  in  itself,  constitute  a  disease. 
The  condition  of  the  bodily  development  must 
chiefly  be  taken  into  consideration,  for  the  age  at 
which  the  ovarian  functions  are  first  manifested  va- 
ries exceedingly.  Instances  of  very  precocious  pu- 
berty are  numerous;  neither  is  it  at  all  uncommon 
to  meet  with  cases  where  the  menstrual  discharge 
does  not  occur  till  a  very  late  period  of  life. 

We  have  met  with  young  women  of  eighteen  ot 
twenty  years,  resembling  children  in  conformation, 
with  a  weak  and  languid  frame,  a  feeble  circulation, 
attenuated,  colorless  and  of  stunted  growth.  The 


DYSMEXORRHOEA.  157 

case  is  obviously  one  of  constitutional  debility,  and 
as  such  requires  medical  treatment. 

When  at  the  usual  age  of  puberty,  a  decided 
change  in  the  system  is  observed,  and  a  struggle  is 
evidently  taking  place  to  bring  about  the  sexual 
functions,  although  followed  by  no  actual  develop- 
ment, we  may  conclude  that  the  defect  is  only  in  de- 
gree, and  that,  by  proper  medical  assistance,  Nature 
will  accomplish  her  object.    But  if  from  false  mod 
esty  on  the  part  of  the  young  female,  or  the  want 
of  a  proper  regard  for  h^r  situation  .either  from  care- 
lessness or  ignorance  on  the  part  of  her  parents,  the 
case  be  neglected,  three  chances  out  of  four  are  that 
she  will  become  the  victim  of  consumption,  and  fill 
an  early  grave;  and  the  fourth  chance,  all  her  life 
long  have  some  or  all  of  the  menstrual  derangements 
so  common  in  the  country. 

DYSMENORRHOEA,  PAINFUL  OR  DIFFICULT  MENSTRUATION. 

This  disease  is  important  ff  jm  its  occasional  ex- 
treme obstinacy,  from  the  great  suffering  which  it 
produces.  In  healthy  menstruation  there  is  often  no 
warning  whatever  of  the  period;  more  generally  there 
is  some  degree  of  discomfort,  consisting  of  a  sensa- 
tion of  weight  and  fullness  about  the  pelvis,  with  a 
bearing  down  and  aching  of  the  thighs,  but  usually 
the  suffering  is  so  slight  as  not  call  for  medical  aid; 
in  Dysmenorrhoea,  however,  the  menstrual  period  is 
accompanied  with  such  acute  pain  and  suffering, 
and  looked  forward  to  with  such  apprehension,  that 
the  patient  is  eagerly  inclined  to  seek  relief,  and 


158 


_  ^  SMENORRHOEA. 


•*3  out  too  often  driven  from  one  remedy  to  another 
vvitli  but  trifling  advantage. 

The  time  at  which  the  pain  comes  on  varies  in  dif- 
ferent cases.  In  many  the  pain  precedes  the  dis- 
charge, or  else  the  discharge  is  exceedingly  scanty 
as  long  as  the  pain  lasts;  but  as  the  quantity  increas- 
es to  a  full  flow,  a  subsidence  of  the  suffering  takes 
place;  in  these  cases  the  pain  will  only  last  a  few 
hours.  In  other  instances  the  discharge  is  more 
profuse  than  natural  during  the  whole  continuance 
of  the  pain,  is  apparently  expelled  in  gushes,  and  is 
then  usually  mixed  with  coagulated  blood.  In  a 
few  more  rare  cases  the  pain  will  only  occur  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  menstrual  period,  accompanied 
either  with  a  diminution  or  increase  of  the  flow; 
and  ceasing  only  after  every  vestige  of  the  discharge 
has  passed  off.  > 

All  these  varieties  will  be  found  in  practice,  and 
though  in  the  histories  of  this  disease  some  have  of- 
ten been  omitted,  most  authors  have  described  the 
pain  as  occurring  only  at  the  onset,  and  ceasing 
when  full  and  free  evacuation  takes  place. 

The  pain  often  resembles  the  grinding  pains  of  the 
first  stages  of  la*bor,  and  is  similarly  in  paroxysm  of 
short  duration  and  frequent  occurrence.  There  is 
also,  in  the  intervals,  a  constant  aching  pain  down 
the  legs,  with  a  dragging  sensation  in  the  back  and 
loins;  there  is  sometimes,  also,  a  sensation  of  bearing 
down  in  the  pelvis,  with  even  an  actual  lowering  of 
the  uterus.  All  these  pains  will  vary  in  degree;  for 
in  some  severe  cases  the  paroxysms  have  been  so  vio- 


MENORRHAGIA. 


159 


lent  that  the  patient  has  rolled  on  the  bed  or  the 
floor  with  agony,  and,  in  a  few  instances,  the  writer 
of  this  article  has  noticed  severe  convulsions  of  the 
character  of  tetanus,  even  amounting  to  regular 
opisthotonos. 

It  would  appear  that  the  immediate  cause  of  this 
distressing  disease  is  extreme  irritability  of  the  uterus 
and  as  it  is  well  known  that  great  irritation  is  but  a 
step  removed  from  inflammation,  it  is  very  probable 
that  in  some  cases,  where  a  membrane  is  expelled,  in- 
flammation of  a  peculiar  character  may  be  excited 
Hence  the  necessity  of  attending  to  this  form  of  dis- 
ease, that  you  may  avoid  the  more  serious  complica- 
tion of  inflammation  or  ulceration  of  the  womb. 

MENORRHAGIA. 

This  term  implies  morbidly  profuse  menstruation. 
The  term  uterine  hemorrhage  is  so  constantly  lim- 
ited in  practice  to  cases  unconnected  with  menstrua- 
tion, and  occasioned  by  organic  diseases,  accidental 
injury,  or  the  consequences  of  pregnancy  in  parturi- 
tion, that  it  is  much  more  convenient  to  include  un- 
der the  title  at  the  head  of  this  article  all  those  in- 
stances of  the  discharge  of  real  blood  from  the  uterus, 
which  occur  in  connection  with  the  menstrual  func- 
tions. The  cases,  indeed,  are  very  rare  in  which  any 
strikingly  profuse  menstruation  exists,  without 
more  or  less  real  blood  escaping  at  the  same  time. 

Menorrhagia  is  a  disease  occasionally  of  great  ob- 
stinacy, and  sometimes  of  alarming  severity.  It  not 
only  includes  the  immoderate  quantity  of  discharge 


MENORRHAGIA. 


at  each  monthly  period,  the  time  remaining  regular, 
but  it  is  also  understood  to  comprehend  the  too  great 
frequency  of  the  recurrence  of  menstruation,  even 
when  the  quantity  lost  is  not  unusually  abundant; 
still  the  definition  of  '  'morbidly  profuse  menstrua- 
tion" ought  to  be  remembered,  because  to  constitute 
the  disease  the  quantity  lost  must  be  relative.  In 
healthy  menstruation  the  discharge  takes  place  >yery 
twenty-eight  days,  lasts  from  two  to  four  days,  and 
the  quantity  lost  upon  an  average  is  about  five  or  six 
ounces. 

Menorrhagia  may  occur  in  very  opposite  states  of 
the  system,  and  has  therefore  been  divided  into  ac- 
tive and  passive;  the  former  arising  from  too  great 
activity  in  the  vessels  of  the  uterus,  the  latter  from  a 
want  of  tone  in  the  secretive  orifices.  Either  of  these 
states  may  exist  in  a  plethoric  habit  of  body,  or  in 
one  of  great  debility.  After  a  long  continuance  of 
the  disorder,  the  strongest  and  most  plethoric  frames 
are  brought  down  to  a  state  of  weakness,  and  the 
active  menorrhagia  may  thus  become  passive.  In  ac- 
tive menorrhagia.  for  a  short  time,  sometimes  for 
two  or  three  days  before  the  expected  period,  there 
is  a  sensation  of  unusual  fullness  about  the  pelvis, 
with  throbbing  referred  to  the  situation  of  the  uterus 
itself,  along  with  sense  of  heat  and  weight;  the  ex- 
ternal parts  of  generation  are  often  slightly  swollen, 
and  the  mammaebQCome  hot,  tumid  and  painful.  The 
circulation  is  quickened,  the  mouth  hot,  the  tongue 
dry  with  thirst  ,  and  there  is  a  general  feeling  of  op- 
pression, with  headache  and  giddiness     After  these 


MENORRHAGIA.  161 

symptoms  have  lasted  for  a  certain  time,  the  function 
of  menstruation  begins;  but  the  discharge  comes  on 
with  violence,  in  gushes,  and  usually  accompanied 
with  pure  blood, as  proved  by  the  presence  oicoagula. 
The  progress  is  then  variable;  sometimes  after  the 
first  few  hours  the  patient  feels  relieved,  lighter  and 
cooler,  and  the  rest  of  the  period  passes  over  more 
quietly  and  naturally;  but  in  more  aggravated  cases, 
the  flow  still  proceeds  in  equal  or  increased  quantity, 
and  lasts  for  several  days,  occasionally  subdued,  but 
again  breaking  forth  on  the  slightest  exertion,  till  at 
the  end  of  the  period  the  patient  is  left  weak  and 
languid,  with  a  feeble  pulse  and  pale  countenance. 

The  causes  of  Menorrhagia  may  be  divided  into 
the  constitutional  and  accidental;  but  it  often  seems 
to  require  a  combination  of  both  to  excite  the  dis- 
ease. The  active  Menorrhagia  is  found  to  occur  in 
plethoric  habits,  often  apparently  as  a  natural  relief 
to  the  overloaded  system,  but  aggravated  or  excited 
by  luxurious  living,  a  sedentary  and  indolent  life, 
hot  rooms,  and  also  by  very  violent  exercise,  or  any 
other  fatiguing  exertion.  The  passive  Menorrhagia, 
on  the  other  hand,  is  caused  by  all  those  circum- 
stances which  lower  the  bodily  powers  and  weaken 
the  action  of  the  heart  and  arteries.  But  in  both  of 
these  cases  there  are  local  causes  which  peculiarly 
tend  to  direct  the  mischief  to  the  uterus,  and  increase 
the  circulation  in  the  vessels  of  that  organ,  leading 
to  the  increased  discharge,  whether  that  be  the  im- 
mediate effect  of  excess  of  activity,  or  diminished 
power  of  retention:  such  ??  blows  and  falls  or  any 


102  FALLING  OF  THE  VAGINA. 

other  local  violence;  frequent  and  recent  abortions, 
lucorrhoea,  over  indulgence  in  sexual  intercourse, 
irritation  in  the  bladder,  diarrhoea,  tenesmus,  piles, 
ascarides  on  scybala,  in  the  rectum. 

There  is  a  frequent  cause  of  Menorrhagia  not  much 
attended  to,  and  not  mentioned  in  systematic  works 
on  the  subject,  but  the  knowledge  of  which  is  highly 
necessary.  It  has  been  often  observed  that  the  most 
obstinate  forms  of  chronic  Menorrhagia  occur  in  per- 
sons who  have  an  impeded  or  disordered  circulation 
through  the  abdominal  veins,  particularly  where 
there  is  organic  or  functional  disorder  oi  the  liver. 
We  have  no  doubt  that  this  is  not  at  all  an  uncom- 
mon cause  of  obstinate  Menorrhagia. 

The  mother  who  would  allow  her  daughter  to  be- 
come emaciated  with  Menorrhagia,  a  loss  of  all  that 
glow  of  countenance,  the  sure  indication  of  health, 
occasioned  by  this  disease,  rather  than  apply  for 
medical  assistance,  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten,  I  will 
think,  has  never  suffered  its  debilitating  effects,  or 
she  would  pity  and  relieve,  if  possible,  the  malady, 
whether  existing  in  her  own  child  or  any  other,  and 
the  husband  who  would  allow  his  wife  to  suffer 
from  this  complaint  is  not  worthy  of  her  affections, 
and  cannot  long  expect  to  have  them  or  the  wife 
either,  for  the  blood  is  the  life. 

PROIAPSUS,  OR  FALLING  OF  THE  VAGINA. 

Prolapsus,  or  Descent  of  the  Vagina,  is  met  with 
more  commonly  among  females  after  thirty  or  thirty- 
five  years  of  age,  and  who  have  given  birth  to  several 


FALLING  OF  THE  VAGINA. 


163 


children;  it  is  always  accompanied  with  a  relaxed 
condition  of  the  vaginal  walls.  There  are  three  va- 
rieties of  vaginal  prolapsus,  known  as,  i— Prolap- 
sus of  the  anterior  vaginal  wall;  2 — Prolapsus  of  the 
posterior  vaginal  wall;  3 — Prolapsus  of  the  entire 
circumference  of  the  vagina,  either  complete  or  in- 
complete. 

Causes. — These  displacements  are  owing  to  relax- 
ed condition  of  the  walls  of  the  vagina,  which  causes 
a  change  in  the  direction  of  the  bladder  and  urethra, 
rendering  urination  more  or  less  difficult.  In  conse< 
quence  of  the  urine  being  thus  incompletely  evacuat- 
ed, it  accumulates  in  and  distends  the  bladder,  the 
weight  of  which  causes  it  to  descend,  carrying  the 
relaxed  vaginal  wall  before  it.  Every  degree  of  pro- 
lapsus may  be  met  with,  from  a  mere  protrusion  of 
the  anterior  vaginal  wall  to  its  appearance  as  a  tumor 
within  the  vaginal  canal  or  even  externally  to  the  vul- 
va. Relaxation  of  the  vagina  may  be  occasioned  by  re- 
peated  child-bearing,  an  abnormally  large  pelvis, 
heavy  lifting,  long-continued  leucorrhoea,  improper 
habit  of  retaining  the  urine  too  long  before  voiding 
it,  improper  use  of  warm  hip  baths,  excessive  coition, 
violent  exertions,  severe  vomitings,  tight  lacing,  etc. 

Symptoms. — A  sensation  of  dragging  in  the  pelvic 
region,  with  a  heaviness  and  bearing  down  is  expe- 
rienced, together  with  difficulty  in  walking;  the  over 
distended  condition  of  the  bladder  impairs  its  con> 
tractile  power  so  that  the  urine  passes  with  difficulty 
or  cannot  be  discharged  at  all.  Sometimes  there  is  a 
stinging  sensation  felt  along  the  urethra.  Generally, 


164  INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  VAGINA. 

by  pushing  the  bladder  up  toward  the  normal  posi- 
tion, and  holding  it  there,  the  urine  will  be  more 
freely  evacuated.  But  little  pain  is  complained  of. 
When  the  bladder  extrudes  it  is  liable  to  ulceration, 
injuries,  etc. 

This  affection. is  divided  into  three  classes,  but  I 
have  no  space  to  amplify  and  the  disease  is  of  not 
very  common  occurrence.  If  uncomplicated,  every 
case  is  amenable  to  treatment. 

INFLAMMATION  OF  THF  VAGINA 

Is  frequently  met  with;  but  is  less  common  among 
middle-aged  females  and  the  unmarried. 

Causes. — This  malady  may  be  occasioned  by  ex- 
posure to  cold,  mechanical  violence,  as  excessive  coi- 
tion, manual  or -instrumental  operations  during  par- 
turition, stimulating  vaginal  injections,  etc.  It  is 
often  caused  by  the  introduction  of  hard  substances 
into  the  vagina,  especially  for  the  purpose  of  mastur- 
bating; and  may  arise  from  any  source  that  will  irri- 
tate the  mucous  membrane  of  the  vulva  and  vagina. 

Symptoms. — The  vagina  is  affected  with  increased 
heat,  and  soreness,  and  becomes  reddened,  dry, 
swollen  and  painful;  with  troublesome  itching  at 
times,  and  in  cases  not  attended  to  and  cured,  a  sen- 
sation of  dragging  in  the  parts,  and  pain  in  the  loins 
is  likely  to  set  in  and  continue;  finally,  discharges 
set  in  almost  like  venereal  gonorrhoea,  and  in  many 
cases  impart  the  disease  to  the  husband.  No  doubt 
many  a  woman  has  been  slandered  by  incompetent 
physicians  who,  though  unable  to  effect  a  cure,  by 


tEUCORRHOEA.  165 

sly  words  leave  the  husband  or  friends  to  doubt  the 
chastity  of  the  patient,  which  I  consider  a  poor  ex- 
cuse for  incompetency. 

TEUCORRHOEA  OR  WHITES. 

By  the  term  Leucorrhoea,  Fluor-albus,  or  Whites, 
is  meant  a  whitish  or  colorless  discharge  from  the 
vagina,  being  the  result  of  an  unhealthy  condition  of 
the  vagina,  the  womb,  or  both  combined.  It  is  a  very 
common  malady  among  women,  but  few  passing 
through  life  without  having  one  or  more  attacks  of  it. 

Symptoms. — The  leucorrhoea!  discharge  is  more  or 
less  profuse,  and  varies  much,  both  in  quantity  and 
color;  in  mild  cases  it  is  whitish,  in  others,  it  is  of  a 
brownish  or  greenish  hue,  and  frequently  so  acrid  as 
to  excoriate  the  external  parts.  When  the  discharge  is 
abundant,  or  of  long  standing,  it  occasions  much  de- 
bility, with  a  sense  of  pain  and  weight  in  the  back 
and  loins,  pain  in  the  stomach,  colic,  impaired  or  de- 
praved appetite,  acid  stomach,  headache,  paleness  of 
the  countenance,  hollowness  of  the  eyes,  chilliness, 
palpitation  of  the  heart  and  great  mental  depression. 
If  no  beneficial  measures  be  pursued ,  the  constitution 
soon  becomes  impaired  and  exhausted,  emaciation 
ensues,  the  flesh  becomes  loose,  the  pulse  small  and 
frequent,  the  breasts  soft,  the  breath  fetid,  the  eye- 
lids bloated,  hysterics  are  common,  and  the  feet  and 
ankles  swell,  and  are  constantly  cold.  The  menstrual 
discharge  frequently  becomes  diminished  or  suppress- 
ed, obstinate  constipation  is  a  common  symptom  and 
the  urine  is  generally  turbid,  flocculent  and  scanty. 


166  LEUCORRHOEA. 

Dropsical  swelling  of  the  whole  body  is  often  present. 

Iyeucorrhoea  is  divided  into  two  varieties,  the  mu- 
cous and  the  purulent;  of  the  mucous  there  are  two 
forms,  characterized  by  the  properties  of  the  dis- 
charge, and  the  part  from  which  it  is  secreted. 

When  the  mucous  discharge  is  from  the  neck  of 
the  womb,  or  its  canal,  it  is  a  transparent  glairy 
fluid,  of  the  consistency  of  the  white  of  an  egg,  has 
an  alkaline  reaction,  changing  reddened  litmus  paper 
to  its  original  blue,  communicates  no  stain,  but  only 
a  starchy  hardness  to  linen  upon  wThich  it  has  been 
allowed  to  dry,  has  such  a  slimy,  ropy,  and  tenac- 
ious consistence,  that  it  is  with  great  difficulty  it  can 
be  removed  from  the  neck  of  the  womb;  and  exam- 
ined under  the  microscope,  is  found  to  contain  a 
large  number  of  mucous  corpuscles.  This  is  a  com- 
mon and  most  obstinate  form  of  leucorrhoea. 

When  the  mucous  discharge  is  from  the  vagina,  it 
is  of  an  opaque,  whitish  character,  of  the  consistence 
of  cream,  has  an  acid  reaction,  changing  blue  litmus 
paper  to  red,  communicates  a  stiffness  to  linen  upon 
which  it  has  dried,  leaving  a  greyish  spot,  deepest 
at  its  edges,  is  never  ropy,  and  under  the  microscope 
exhibits  a  large  number  of  epithelial  scales.  This 
form  is  frequently  accompanied  with  a  lax  condition 
of  the  vagina,  and  troublesome  itching  of  the  parts. 

When  leucorrhoeal  discharge  is  of  a  purulent  char- 
acter, it  is  colored  greenish,  or  any  intermediate 
shade  between  a  light  yellow  and  a  dark  brown,  leaves 
deep  stains  on  linen,  which  are  removed  with  dim  • 
culty  by  washing,  and  exhibits  under  the  microscope 


LEUCORRHOEA.  167 

a  large  number  of  pus  globules.  Most  generally 
the  discharge  issues  from  an  excoriated  or  ulcerated 
surface  on  some  parts  of  the  neck  of  the  womb;  oc- 
casionally it  proceeds  from  the  vagina.  This,  how- 
ever, may  be  termed  from  its  acidity  or  alkalin- 
ity. Women  laboring  under  this  form  of  leucorr- 
hoea  are  very  subject  to  abortions. 

Eeucorrhoea  sometimes  becomes  of  so  acrid  and 
irritating  a  character  as  to  communicate  a  disease 
very  closely  resembling  gonorrhoea.  And  the  de- 
termination of  this  matter,  upon  which  the  happi- 
ness of  a  family  depends,  is  attended  with  much 
difficult}7.  Great  care  must  be  taken  by  the  physi- 
cian in  pronouncing  positively  in  cases  of  this  kind, 
as  a  mistaken  diagnosis  will  be  a  source  of  much 
nisery  and  mortification. 

Causes . — Leucorrhoea  arises  from  many  causes, 
:he  most  common  among  which  is  excessive  coition; 
•and  on  this  account  a  woman  wedded  to  a  sensual,  ani- 
mal husband,  whose  only  consideration  for  his  wife 
Is  to  compel  her  to  gratify  his  selfish  passion,  with- 
out regard  to  her  health  is  much  to  be  pitied,  as  she 
is  constantly  liable  not  only  to  the  present  disease, 
but  to  every  malady  which  may  afilict  her  sex.  And 
to  this  cause  is,  no  doubt  attributable  by  far  the 
greater  number  of  those  diseases  so  common  at  the 
present  day  among  women  in  all  sections  of  the 
country.  Other  causes,  however,  may  produce  leu- 
corrhoea, as  a  rapid  succession  of  children,  colds, 
dampness,  difficult  deliveries,  masturbation,  abuse  of 
warm  baths,  purgatives  or  emmenagogues,  prolong- 


168  ABORTION. 

ed  suckling,  irritation  of  the  rectum  by  thread-  worms 
relaxation  of  the  system  by  too  much  warmth,  abor- 
tions, mechanical  injury  by  pessaries,  secondary 
syphilis  of  the  husband,  sedentary  life,  sudden  men- 
tal or  physical  shocks,  excessive  menstruation,  etc. 

When  the  leucorrhoeal  discharge  is  considerable, 
and  continues  throughout  the  greater  part  of  the 
menstrual  interval,  it  is  generally  occasioned  by 
chronic  inflammation  in  the  uterine  region, and  very 
frequently  the  neck  of  the  womb  is  the  seat  of  the 
inflammation.  It  is  to  this  fact  that  the  intractibili- 
ty  of  leucorrhoea  is  attributable.  When  the  ordinary 
means  for  the  cure  of  this  complaint  have  been  em- 
ployed for  a  length  of  time  without  giving  permanenl 
relief,  there  is  ample  reason  for  suspecting  that  the 
medical  attendant  does  not  thoroughly  understand 
the  case — that  he  has  failed  to  recognize  the  fact 
that  the  leucorrhoea  is  but  a  symptom  of  that  seri- 
ous trouble,  inflammation,  with  perhaps  ulceration, 
of  the  neck  of  the  womb.  It  is  almost  of  daily  oo 
currence  for  persons  to  apply  to  me  for  treatment 
for  what  their  physicians  have  termed  a  simple  leu- 
corrhoea, and  find,  upon  examination,  that  they 
have  extensive  ulceration  of  the  womb. 

ABORTION,  OR  MISCARRIAGE. 

Abortion  may  be  owing  to  attacks  of  epilepsy, 
hysteria,  dysentery;  to  acute  attacks,  as  scarlet  fever, 
small  pox,  etc.  Females  whose  systems  are  tainted 
with  syphilitic  disease,  or  scrofula,  or  who  labor  un- 
der excessive  leucorrhoea,  are  apt  to  abort;  tumors  in 


ABORTION.  169 

the  pelvis  or  other  abnormal  formations,  displace- 
ments of  the  womb,  ulceration  of"  the  neck  of  the 
womb,  rheumatic  affection  of  the  womb, etc.,  are  all 
causes  of  abortion.  Disease  of  the  foetus  is  a  com- 
mon case,  being  generally  received  from  the  parent, 
as  syphilis,  small  pox,  etc.  Vaccination  during  preg- 
nancy will  often  occasion  a  miscarriage;  and  it  is 
dangerous  to  vaccinate  a  woman  who  has  recently 
been  delivered.  Accidents  also  give  rise  to  abor- 
tion, as  powerful  exercise,  heavy  lifting,  blows, 
bruises,  severe  jars,  long-continued  and  violent  danc- 
ing, rough  riding,  excessive  coition,  etc.  In  many 
instances,  it  is  produced  by  long-continued  suckling 
of  a  child,  and  also  by  the  means  frequently  em- 
ployed for  the  purpose.  Females  of  full  habit  and 
voluptuous  are  very  apt  to  abort.  When  the  motions 
of  the  foetus  cease,  the  morning  sickness  disappears, 
and  the  breasts  become  soft  and  flaccid,  it  is  an  in- 
dication of  the  death  of  the  child,  and  abortion  will 
certainly  come  on;  the  same  will  happen  when  the 
waters  have  evacuated. 

Symptoms. — These  depend  considerably  upon  the 
causes  and  the  time  of  pregnancy.  Thus,  for  the 
first  ten  or  twenty  days  after  conception,  there  may 
be  hardly  any  pain,  but  little  blood;  so  that  the  fe- 
male will  be  more  disposed  to  look  upon  it  as  a  men- 
strual derangement  instead  of  an  abortion.  But  in 
the  latter  periods  of  pregnancy,  and  especially  after 
the  third  month,  various  symptoms  may  usher  in 
the  abortion;  there  will  be  more  or  less  febrile  symp- 
toms, nervous  excitability,  deranged  appetite,  cold- 


1?0  DISEASES  OF  PREGNANCY. 

ness  of  the  feet  and  legs,  a  purplish  discoloration  of 
the  skin  around  the  eyelids,  which  are  more  or  less 
puffed  up;  shooting  pains  are  frequently  felt  in  the 
breasts,  which  become  soft  and  lose  their  elasticity, 
lowness  of  spirits,  a  feeling  of  pressure  or  bearing 
down  in  the  lower  part  of  the  bowels,  frequent  calls 
to  evacuate  the  bowels  or  the  bladder,  and  slight 
pains  in  the  back,  which  come  on  at  intervals, grad- 
ually increasing  in  severity,  extending  in  front,  and 
eventually  becoming  severe  and  expulsive,  or  true 
labor  pains.  As  the  pains  advance,  a  discharge  of  a 
bloody  character  ensues,  becoming  more  profuse  as 
the  abortion  progresses,  finally  the  bag  of  water  is 
broken  and  the  foetus  is  expelled;  cocasionally  it 
comes  away  entire,  being  surrounded  by  a  bag  of 
waters.  It  is  often  the  case  that  the  first  indication 
of  an  abortion  is  the  flooding,  followed  by  pains,  ap- 
sence  of  motion  in  the  child,  and  its  ultimate  expul- 
sion. 

Now,  if  when  a  woman  seems  likely  to  abort,  prop- 
er care  be  taken,  and  scientific  medical  advice  be 
procured,  much  evil,  disease,  and  the  unhappiness 
of  families  might  be  prevented.  But  if  abortion  has 
actually  taken  place,  or  is  inevitable,  the  very  best 
of  medical  aid  is  required  to  render  life  certain,  the 
health  good,  and  as  a  matter  of  consequence,  the 
after  years  of  life  pleasant  and  happy. 

DISEASES  OF  PREGNANCY. 

There  are  certain  symptoms  common  to  the  preg- 
nant female,  which  are  peculiar  to  this  condition, 


diseases  of  pregnancy.  m 

and  are  in  fact  indications  of  the  healthy  act  of  con- 
ception, and  should  not,  as  a  general  rule,  be  inter- 
fered with.  In  some  cases,  however,  they  become  so 
much  increased  in  severity  or  protracted  in  duration, 
that  they  may  be  termed  the  '  'diseases  of  pregnancy, ' ' 
and  will  require  treatment  to  remedy  them. 

Females,  when  pregnant,  should  never  compress 
any  part  of  the  body  or  limbs,  with  belts,  corsets, 
etc.,  as  this  may  not  only  give  rise  to  abortions,  en- 
larged veins  in  the  legs  and  other  difficulties,  but 
will  likewise  tend  to  produce  dropsy  of  the  head,  or 
deformity  of  the  child,  as  well  as  positions  of  the  in- 
fant in  the  womb,  known  as  cross-births,  breech - 
labors,  etc.,  which  render  instruments  necessary  to 
bring  the  child  into  the  world,  and  may  prove  fatal 
to  mother  and  offspring.  The  diet  also  requires  par- 
ticular attention,  using  light  and  nutritious  food,  and 
avoiding  all  alcoholic  drinks,  fatty,  acidulous,  and 
indigestable  food.  Gentle  exercise  daily,  out  of  doors, 
is  very  important  during  the  first  months  of  preg- 
nancy; fresh,  pure  air,  with  bathings  of  the  whole 
body  once  or  twice  every  week,  cannot  be  too  highly 
recommended. 

The  following  are  among  some  of  the  most  com- 
mon diseases  of  pregnancy:  Vomiting,  diarrhoea, 
cramps  and  heartburn;  constipation,  which  should 
always  be  avoided  if  possible,  is  a  common  and  an- 
noying symptom  during  pregnane}-;  headache,  con- 
vulsions during  pregnane}',  are  gemerally  of  an 
hysterical  nature;  cough.  (Edematous  swelling  of 
the  limbs.  Piles  are  common  during  pregnancy,  and 


i*S  CHLOROSIS, 
are  more  apt  to  be  present  when  the  bowels  are  cos- 
tive; though  they  are  sometimes  met  with  during  an 
attack  of  diarrhoea.  Pain  in  the  right  side  is  occas- 
ioned by  the  enlarged  womb  pressing  against  the 
liver;  itching  of  the  genitals,  or  eruption  of  the  parts 
with  excessive  itching;  suppression  of  the  urine;  as 
well  as  difficulty  in  urinating. 

All  or  any  of  these  symptoms  can  be  relieved  or 
entirely  cured  if  medical  assistance  can  be  had  re- 
course to  of  a  scientific  character;  which  thereby  not 
only  makes  life  pleasant,  but  influences  the  offspring 
at  a  time  when,  of  all  others,  it  is  under  the  influence 
of  the  mother. 

A  plain  statement  by  letter  is  quite  sufficient  to 
enable  me  to  prescribe  by  mail  or  express. 

chlorosis. 

Chlorosis,  or  Green  Sickness,  is  a  disease  common 
to  females,  especially  at  the  age  of  puberty,  and  is 
very  apt  to  be  associated  with  a  retention  of  the 
menses,  though  this  may,  and  often  does,  occur 
without  any  chlorotic  tendency. 

Symptoms. — Chlorosis  is  characterized  by  a  state 
of  melancholy  and  disposition  to  inactivity;  the  fe- 
male becomes  silent  and  gloomy,  frequently  sighing 
involuntarily,  or  shedding  tears  without  cause;  the 
countenance  becomes  pale,  or  a  greenish  tint  and 
bloated,  the  eyes  languid  and  the  eyelids  swollen,  with 
a  dark  areola  around  them, especially  in  the  morning; 
the  skin  is  dry  and  cool,  and  has  a  flabby  or  a  doughy 
feeling;  the  pulse  is  frequent  and  easily  suppressed, 


CHLOROSIS.  !.73 

the  breathing  is  hurried  or  laborious,  the  digestive 
functions  deranged,  the  bowels  costive  or  irregular; 
the  stools  sometimes  become  white  and  hard,  and  oth- 
er times  fluid;  the  sleep  is  disturbed,  and  the  dreams 
unpleasant;  the  intellect  becomes  dull,  and  the  mind 
is  occupied  with  fanciful  notions  or  projects;  head- 
ache is  usually  present;  ringing  in  the  ears;  the  face 
cold;  the  nostrils  dry;  neuralgic  pains,  and  palpita- 
tions in  the  neighborhood  of  the  heart  and  stomach. 

The  tongue  is  generally  coated  white,  and  acid  re- 
gurgitation takes  place  frequently,  with  nausea,  es- 
pecially in  the  morning.  There  is  often  an  accom- 
panying cough  of  an  irritable  and  distressing  nature, 
leading  the  friends  to  suppose  that  the  patient  is  la- 
boring under  consumption.  Sometimes  dropsical 
swellings  occur  in  various  parts  of  the  body,  or  the 
patient  may  be  attacked  w7ith  St.  Vitus'  Dance,  hys- 
terics or  epilepsy.  L,eucorrhoea  is  generally  present, 
with  a  retention  or  suppression  of  the  menstrual  dis- 
charge; or  if  any  fluid  escapes  monthly,  it  contains 
but  little  coloring  matter,  and  less  fibrin  than  usual. 

All  the  above  symptoms  will  not  be  present  in  any 
one  patient,  but  a  great  proportion  of  them  will; 
and  they  will  vary  in  their  character,  according  to 
the  circumstauces  attending  each  case. 

Causes. — The  causes  of  chlorosis  are  various  and 
numerous.  It  may  be  owing  to  indigestion,  to  liv- 
ing in  low,  damp  and  cold  situations,  secluded  from 
the  rays  of  the  sun,  bad  food,  late  hours,  excessive 
use  of  vinegar,  green  fruit  and  all  crude  articles,  in- 
dulgence in  warm  drinks,  wrant  of  exercise  and  a 


174  SELF-ABUSE  OF  FEMALES. 

sedentary,  lazy  and  voluptuous  mode  of  life.  Females 
of  a  rapid  and  premature  growth,  those  of  a  weak, 
delicate  constitution,  of  a  scrofulous  habit,  or  of  a 
nervous  temperament  are  most  especially  liable  to  it. 

Many  young  females  produce  this  disease  by  a  vi- 
olation of  the  moral  and  physical  laws  of  Nature. 
Such  females  labor  under  a  great  depression  of  mind, 
are  often  affected  with  some  menstrual  derange- 
ment, etc. ,  and  become  almost  unfit  for  society. 

I^adies  thus  afflicted  suffer  long  and  severely,  be- 
cause of  a  false  delicacy  in  not  seeking  early  the  ad- 
vice and  counsel  ot  a  scientific  and  skilful  physician, 
whose  sympathies  and  kindness,  in  addition  to  his 
skill,  might  soon  restore  them  to  their  wonted 
health  and  vigor. 

SELF-ABUSE  OE  FEMALES. 

Mrs.  Gove,  in  her  Lecture  to  I^adies  on  Anatomy 
and  Physiology — subjects  which  every  woman 
should  understand — thus  discourses  concerning  its 
prevalence  among  her  sex: 

'  'About  eight  years  since,  my  mind  was  awaken- 
ed to  examine  this  subject  by  the  perusal  of  a  med- 
ical work  that  described  the  effects  of  this  vice  when 
practiced  by  females.  This  was  the  firs*t  intimation 
I  had  that  the  vice  existed  among  our  sex.  Since 
that  time  I  had  much  evidence  that  it  is  fearfully 
common  among  them. 

"There  is  reason  to  believe  that,  in  nine  cases  out 
of  ten,  those  unhappy  females  who  are  tenants  of 
houses  of  ill-fame  have  been  victims  of  this  vice  in 


EFFECTS  OF  SELF-ABUSE  OX  FEMALES.  175 

the  first  place.  Were  this  the  peculiar  vice  of  the 
low  and  vulgar,  there  might  be  more  excuse  for  the 
apathy  and  false  delicacy  that  pervades  the  commun- 
ity respecting  it.  But  it  invades  all  ranks.  Professed 
Christians  are  among  its  victims.  Our  boarding 
and  day  schools  are  sources  of  untold  mischief.  A 
short  time  since,  two  sisters,  ladies  of  the  first  re- 
spectability, informed  me  that,  when  very  young, 
they  were  put  to  a  female  boarding-school  where  this 
vice  prevailed,  and  the  practice  was  explained  to 
them.  They  were  blessed  with  parents  who  were 
willing  to  converse  with  and  warn  their  children, 
and  they  escaped  the  contamination. 

One  of  her  correspondents  writes  that  she  '  'became 
addicted  to  solitary  vice  about  the  age  of  nine  years. ' 5 
1  'Facts  and  important  information  to  young  women, 
etc. , "  a  work  which  we  recommend  cordially,  details 
many  instances  illustrative  of  the  prevalence  of  this 
vice. 

EFFECTS  OF  MASTURBATION  OX  FEMALES. 

In  girls  and  women  the  consequences  of  solitary 
vice  are  somewhat  different  from  what  they  are  in 
men.  The  object  of  the  habit  is  the  same  in  girls  as 
in  boys,  viz. :  sexual  excitement;  but  there  is  this  dif- 
ference, that  girls  do  not  weaken  themselves  by  the 
constant  loss  of  Spermatic  fluid,  but  by  the  excessive 
exaltation  of  the  nervous  system.  Excessive  prostra- 
tion of  the  nervous  energy,  and  general  debility,  is 
therefore  the  effect  of  masturbation  in  young  females. 
The  cerebellum,  or  little  brain,  situated  on  the  back 


176    EFFECTS  OF  SELF-ABUSE  ON  FEMALES. 

part  of  the  head  is  acknowledged  to  be  the  seat  of 
Amativeness,  and  this  organ  has  also  been  proved,  by 
the  best  pathologists,  to  be  the  seat  of  Epilepsy  in 
a  majority  of  cases.  The  sexual  organs,  as  we  have 
already  remarked,  being  highly  supplied  with  nerves, 
which  are  endowed  with  the  keenest  sensibility,  and 
which  connect  in  a  wonderful  and  mysterious  manner 
through  the  medium  of  other  nerves  in  the  spinal 
column,  carrying  their  direct  effect  to  the  cerebellum 
and  brain,  the  seat  of  the  soul,  it  will  be  readily  un- 
derstood why  girls  are  much  more  subject  to  Epilepsy 
St.  Vitus'  Dance,  (Chorea,)  Vertigo,  excessive  head- 
ache, sadness,  sullenness,  depression  of  spirits,  idiocy 
and  insanity.  Instead  of  the  local  organs  in  the  height 
of  the  excitement  and  pleasure  from  this  habit,  pour- 
ing out  a  functional  secretion,  leaving  the  longings 
of  the  mind  and  desire  somewhat  satisfied,  as  in  the 
male,  it  does  not  obtain  to  produce  this  effect  in  the 
female,  but  the  pleasurable  excitement  being  con- 
tinued into  a  perfect  moral  orgasm,  the  cerebellum, 
the  brain,  and  the  whole  nervous  system  receives  a 
shock,  which  in  thousands  of  instances  is  sufficient 
to  result  in  madness,  mania,  the  loss  of  self-control, 
or  all  shame,  even  to  the  exposure  of  the  naked  per- 
son. These  results  are  not  the  first  effects,  only  in 
a  milder  degree,  but  as  the  habit  becomes  formed, 
the  victim  gives  herself  up  more  and  more,  and 
oftener  and  oftener,  to  indulgences  that  sooner  or 
later  develop  one  or  more  of  these  effects  and  sad 
results. 


EFFECTS  OF  SELF-ABUSE  ON  FEMALES.  177 

During  twenty  years'  practice,  we  have  been  con- 
sulted in  over  one  thousand  cases  of  Epilepsy,  St. 
Vitus'  Dance,  Neuralgia,  Nervous  Spasms,  Hys- 
teria, Cramps,  Fits,  and  the  catalogue  of  this  class 
of  disorders,  and  in  every  case  wrere  they  traceable 
to  this  vice. 

But  again,  the  membranes  lining  the  vagina  and 
the  female  genital  organs,  are  supplied  with  glands 
and  tissues  for  the  special  office  of  secreting  a  healthy 
mucous  to  keep  the  parts  properly  lubricated,  the 
same  as  in  the  mouth,  pertaining  to  the  salivary 
glands.  The  continued  irritation  and  excitement 
kept  up  by  the  female  upon  these  membranes  and 
parts  by  the  habit,  cause  an  excessive  morbid  secre- 
tion to  be  poured  out  from  the  vagina,  wdiich  dis- 
charges itself  over  the  labia  and  thighs,  excoriating 
them,  generating  humors  and  eruptions,  and  in  many 
cases  an  intolerable  itching,  causing  hysteria,  and 
morbid  excitement  of  the  passions. 

The  face  and  complexion  show  most  evidently 
the  effects  of  this  vice;  red  blotches  and  pimples  ap- 
pear, the  countenance  often  becoming  yellow  and 
discolored. 

Despondenc}-  of  spirits—moreover,  intolerable 
grief,  alternated  by  violent  fits  of  uncontrollable 
laughter,  sullenness,  madness  and  insanity,  are  the 
results  in  long-continued  and  more  aggravated  cases, 
in  females  possessing  peculiar  temperaments. 

In  our  prescriptions  and  treatment  for  Lung  dis- 
eases we  always  consider  it  an  imperative  duty  to  ac- 
quaint our  patients  with  all  the  causes,  and  emphat- 


178  RETENTION  OF  THE  MENSES. 

ically  give  them  to  understand  that,  without  cutting 
off  and  avoiding  all  causes,  the  baneful  effects  cannot 
be  got  rid  of, — health  cannot  be  restored  ;consequent- 
ly  we  have  been  able  to  reach  and  save  many  that 
were  surrounded  by  the  twilight  of  the  grave.  We 
conscientiously  advise  mothers  having  daughters 
manifesting  any  of  the  above  symptoms  we  have  de- 
scribed, to  seek  our  advice  before  it  is  too  late.  An 
earnest  expostulation  made  to  their  reason,  with  an 
array  of  astounding  cases  and  practical  facts,  will  of- 
ten arouse  a  gleam  of  reflection  and  moral  decision, 
without  which  a  fatal  termination  would  be  the  result, 

RETENTION  OF  THE  MENSES. 

The  non-appearance  of  the  monthly  evacuation  at 
the  natural  period,  is  called  retention  of  the  menses, 
and  is  generally  followed  in  time  by  serious  conse- 
quences to  health.  From  various  causes,  the  menses 
are  liable  to  become  obstructed  at  a  period  when 
they  ought  to  appear;  and  unless  nature  is  assisted, 
the  constitution  becomes  so  impaired  as  to  induce 
consumption,  or  some  other  fatal  disease. 

The  cause  of  this  disease  seems  to  be  a  want  of 
power  in  the  system,  arising  from  inability  to  propel 
the  blood  into  the  uterine  vessels  wTith  sufficient 
force  to  open  their  extremities,  and  allow  a  discharge 
of  blood  from  them.  The  more  remote  cause  seems 
to  be  suppressed  perspiration  occasioned  by  leading 
an  inactive  and  sedentary  life.  We  have  noticed  of  late 
that  a  large  proportion  of  females  troubled  with  this 
complaint,  are  those  engaged  in  factories;  and  we  are 


RETENTION  OF  THE  MENSES.  179 

satisfied  that  persons  thus  confined,  year  after  year, 
deprived  as  they  must  be  of  fresh  air,  and  kept  con- 
stantly in  a  constrained  position,  inflict  a  lasting 
evil  upon  their  constitutions. 

Among  the  symptoms  which  characterize  this  dis- 
ease are  debility,  great  disorder  of  the  stomach  and 
bowels,  sallow  countenance,  pains  in  the  back  and 
loins,  swelling  of  the  ankles  at  night  and  face  ir 
the  morning,  palpitation  of  the  heart,  hurried  or  la 
borious  breathing,  disturbed  sleep,  colorless  urine, 
derangement  of  the  nervous  system,  and  often  har- 
assing cough.  The  skin  is  pale  and  cold,  and  some- 
times of  a  greenish  hue,  which  has  given  the  dis- 
ease the  name  of  the  1  'green  sickness. ' ' 

In  regard  to  treatment  of  this  complaint,  it  is  evi- 
dent that,  as  it  proceeds  from  debility,  the  great  ob- 
ject to  be  fulfilled  is  to  give  tone  and  energy  to  the 
system.  The  patient  should  keep  her  feet  warm  and 
dry,  and  avoid  all  exposure  to  a  cold  or  damp  at- 
mosphere, especially  the  night  air.  If  the  weather 
is  mild,  exercise  in  the  open  air  will  be  beneficial. 

The  skin  should  be  rubbed  night  and  morning 
with  a  coarse  towel  or  flesh  brush  till  it  is  in  a  glow. 

The  food  should  be  light  and  nourishing,  avoid- 
ing the  use  of  tea  and  coffee,  fat  meat  and  all  oily 
substances.  Seashore  bathing,  change  of  air,  etc. 
will  do  more  than  any  other  course  to  establish  the 
health  of  the  patient.  Herb  tea,  such  as  mother- 
wort,  pennyroyal,  etc.,  in  connection  with  a  fr 
male  periodical  pill  would  be  advisable- 


180  SUPPRESSION  OF  THE  MENSES. 


SUPPRESSION  OF  THE  MENSES. 

Aside  from  pregnancy,  the  menses  are  frequently 
interrupted  by  exposure  to  cold,  mental  agitation, 
and  a  variety  of  other  causes  which  derange  the 
health.  The  discharge  is  sometimes  suddenly  check- 
ed by  remaining  in  a  damp  place  till  the  body  is  chill- 
ed, and  in  that  case  there  is  usually  headache,  a  dry 
cough,  hot  skin,  thirst,  tenderness  in  the  region  of 
the  womb,  and  pains  of  the  back  and  lower  extrem- 
ities. Sometimes  the  patient  is  attacked  with  shiver- 
ings.  If  the  suppression  continues  beyond  two  or 
three  periods,  the  health  becomes  more  or  less  im- 
paired, as  in  retention  of  the  menses;  and  hemorrhage 
from  the  lungs  or  some  other  organ  is  liable  to  occur. 

Our  prognostic  in  this  disease  is  to  be  directed  by 
the  cause  which  gives  rise  to  it,  the  length  of  time 
it  has  continued, and  the  state  of  the  person's  health 
in  other  respects.  When  suddenly  suppressed  in 
consequence  of  cold,  it  may  easily  be  restored  by 
pursuing  proper  means;  but  where  the  suppression 
has  been  of  long  standing,  and  leucorrhoea  attends, 
we  ought  always  to  consider  the  circumstances  as 
unfavorable. 

In  those  cases  we  have  treated,  which  terminated 
fatally,  in  consequence  of  the  long  continuance  oi 
the  disease,  the  same  morbid  changes  in  the  ovaries 
and  uterus  are  to  be  observed  on  dissection,  as  in 
those  of  retention  of  the  menses.  In  this  complaint 
the  patient  should  be  fully  apprised  of  the  connec- 
tion between  the  suppression  and  pregnancy. 


GONORRHOEA.  181 

In  the  treatment  of  this  disease,  if  th.z  suppression 
is  owing  to  a  sudden  cold,  a  cure  may  he  effected  by 
a  free  use  of  warm  herb,  teas,  until  perspiration  en- 
sues, and  if  the  patient  is  in  bed,  a  heated  stone, 
wrapped  in  damp  cloth,  may  be  placed  at  her  feet. 
If  she  perspires  with  difficulty,  an  injection  should 
be  administered,  followed  by  the  vapor  bath,  and  if 
necessary,  an  emetic  to  cleanse  the  stomach.  If  the 
disease  is  obstinate  and  of  long  standing,  the  treat- 
ment directed  for  the  retention  of  the  menses  will  be 
equally  applicable  in  this,  viz:  Female  Periodical 
Pills,  which  are  the  result  of  the  combined  knowl- 
edge and  experience  of  some  of  the  oldest  and  most' 
distinguished  physicians.  To  eulogize  their  virtues 
would  not  add  to  their  merits.  We  will  only  say,  try 
them,  and  if  they  do  not  prove  to  be  what  they  are 
represented,  your  money  shall  be  refunded. 

Price,  Five  Dollars  per  box.  They  can  be  trans- 
mitted by  Express  to  any  part  of  the  World. 

VENEREAL  DISEASES — GONORRHOEA. 

Gonorrhoea  is  an  inflammation  of  the  urethra  in 
the  male,  and  of  the  vagina  in  the  female,  attended 
by  a  whitish  or  yellowish  discharge.  The  disease 
may  arise  from  leucorrhoea  in  the  female,  or  other 
exciting  agents;  but,  as  a  rule,  it  is  contracted  in 
intercourse  with  a  person  similarly  affected. 

An  average  case  of  gonorrhoea,  if  not  cut  short 
by  treatment,  presents  four  stages;  viz: 

The  first  or  initiatory  stage,  which  lasts  from  twen- 
ty-four hours  to  a  couple  of  days,  and  consists  in  a 


182  GLEET*. 

slight  tickling,  or  tingling,  at  the  orifice  of  the 
urethra  and  the  flow  of  a  small  quantity  of  thin, 
transparent  mucous  or  milklike  discharge. 

Secondly,  to  this  succeeds  the  inflammatory  stage, 
in  which  the  lips  of  the  urethra  become  red  and 
swollen,  the  discharge  becomes  copious,  yellow  or 
greenish;  the  act  of  micturition  is  attended  with  pain 
and  scalding.  During  this  stage,  also,  the  most  dis- 
tressing of  the  complications  of  the  disease  are  apt 
to  occur,  such  as  irritation  of  the  bladder,  inflamma- 
tion of  the  testicle  and  of  the  prostate  gland. 

The  third  stage,  viz:  that  of  subacute  inflamma- 
tion follows  the  subsidence  of  the  foregoing  acute 
symptoms.  It  is  marked  by  slight  irritation  in  mak- 
ing water,  and  the  continuance  of  a  discharge  of 
yellow  matter.  This  stage  is  apt  to  be  protracted, 
and  to  result  in  the  fourth  stage,  or 

GI.EET. 

Gleet  consists  in  the  continuance,  after  all  inflam- 
matory symptoms  of  gonorrhoea  haves  ubsided,  of  a 
discharge  from  the  urethra  of  a  fluid  varying  in  color 
and  consistency — being  one  case  simply  mucous,  in 
another  purulent.  The  quantity  is  generally  small, 
often  not  more  than  a  few  drops  in  the  course  of 
twenty-four  hours,  whilst  at  times  it  ceases  entirely 
for  days  together,  returnable  without  assignable 
causes,  or  in  consequence  of  some  excitement  in  the 
way  of  diet  or  exercise.  Though  most  commonly  the 
result  of  an  acute  attack  of  gonorrhoea,  mild  cases  of 
that  disease,  also,  not  unfrequently,  run  on  and  as- 


GLEET.  183 

sume  the  true  character  of  gleet.  The  disease  is  often 
maintained  by  a  state  of  debility,  or  by  a  strumous 
rheumatic  or  gouty  diathesis.  That  general  debility 
is  a  fruitful  source  of  the  persistence  of  gleet,  is  evi- 
dent from  the  frequency  of  this  disease  in  persons  of 
broken-down  constitutions.  Again,  gleet  is  peculiarly 
frequent  and  obstinate  in  persons  of  a  strumous  dia- 
thesis, who  are  subject  to  inflammation  of  the  mu- 
cous membranes,  and,  under  such  circumstances,  is 
benefitted  by  anti-strumous  remedies.  The  influence 
of  rheumatism  or  gout  in  the  production  of  dis- 
charges from  the  urethra  is  notorious. 

The  sources  of  the  discharge  of  gleet  are  various. 
In  some  cases  it  issues  from  the  lacuna  magna,  situ- 
ated a  short  distance  up  the  urethra.  When  that  is 
the  case,  a  drop  of  the  discharge  may  almost  at  any 
moment  be  obtained — provided  the  patient  has  not 
recently  passed  water — by  squeezing  the  end  of  the 
penis.  In  other  cases  it  may  proceed  from  chronic 
relaxation  of  the  membrane  higher  up  the  passage 
toward  the  bladder,  or  from  the  prostrate  gland,  or 
more  commonly  still,  from  a  stricture. 

In  many  cases  of  gleet  the  discharge  is  the  only 
symptom.  There  is  an  entire  absence  of  pain  in  the 
part,  of  redness  and  tumefaction  of  the  lips  of  the 
meatus,  and  of  scalding  in  passing  water.  In  some 
instances,  however,  the  patient  experiences  a  feeling 
of  uneasiness  in  the  penis,  or  perineum  or  an  itching 
about  the  glans  or  in  the  deeper  portion  of  the  ure- 
thra, which  may  be  constant  or  attendant  only  upon 
the  passage  of  the  urine.    Again,  at  the  first  act  of 


184  GONORRHOEA  IN  WOMEN. 

micturition  in  the  morning,  the  obstruction  offered 
to  the  exit  of  the  urine  by  the  matter  that  has  dried 
around  the  meatus  and  glued  its  lips  together,  often 
gives  rise  to  a  forcible  distention  of  the  canal,  and  a 
sharp  momentary  pain  which  may  be  avoided  by  pre- 
viously separating  the  lips  of  the  orifice.  The  symp- 
toms of  gleet  now  described  are  liable  to  be  aggravat- 
ed by  any  cause  which  produces  urethral  or  vesical 
irritation. 

Some  physicians  are  in  doubt  as  to  whether  the 
discharge  present  in  gleet  possess  any  contagious 
properties.  My  experience  teaches  me  that  it  is  con- 
tagious, in  the  great  majority  of  cases,  and  certainly 
no  one  is  justified  in  having  connection  with  a  female 
while  a  vestige  of  the  discharge  remains. 

GONORRHOEA  IN  WOMEN. 

The  urethra  is  much  shorter  and  more  capacious 
in  females  than  in  the  other  sex,  and  hence  the  in- 
flammatory symptoms  are  less  violent  although  the 
disease  is  sometimes  of  longer  duration,  extends  to  the 
external  genitals  and  the  vagina,  thus  affecting  a 
much  greater  surface  than  in  man.  When  these 
parts  are  acutely  inflamed,  sexual  intercourse  is  per- 
formed with  more  or  less  pain  and  difficulty,  and 
sometimes  becomes  intolerable,  but  when  the  disease 
is  chronic,  there  is  no  inconvenience. 

The  discharge  is  very  abundant,  and  sometimes 
comes  in  contact  with  the  extremity  of  the  rectum, 
which  it  inflames,  when  the  mucous  membrane  of 
this  part  affords  a  whitish  or  purulent  secretion.  If 


OONORRHHBA  IN  WOMEN.  1& 

the  mucous  lining  of  the  rectum  is  inflamed,  there 
will  be  heat  and  pain  in  the  part,  which  are  greatly 
aggravated  on  evacuating  the  bowels,  and  the  stools 
will  be  mixed  with  mucous  or  yellow  matter,  and 
sometimes  with  blood. 

When  the  disease  occurs  during  pregnancy,  it  is 
absolutely  necessary  that  it  be  cured  before  parturi- 
tion, as  the  matter  discharged,  in  coming  in  contact 
with  the  eyes  of  an  infant  in  passing  into  the  world, 
may  cause  a  violent  purulent  opthalmia.  We  might 
narrate  the  histories  of  numerous  cases  in  which  the 
vision  of  the  new-born  infant  was  destroyed  by  opa- 
cities of  the  cornea,  induced  by  the  gonorrhoeal 
discharge  of  the  parent.  It  is,  however,  fortunate 
that  many  such  cases  admit  of  cure. 

The  medical  treatment  of  both  sexes  is  constitu- 
tionally alike,  but  the  female  has  to  depend  more 
upon  local  treatment  than  the  male.  Frequent  ab- 
lution, rest,  temperate  diet,  the  more  farinaceous 
and  mucilaginous  the  better,  avoiding  entirely 
wines,  fermented  and  spirituous  liquors,  together 
with  mild  aperients  and  salines,  constitute  the  chief 
means  of  cure,  together  with  our  Ricord's  complete 
cure  for  Gonorrhoea,  of  which  we  make  mention  in 
another  part  of  this  work. 

We  have  already  alluded  to  the  difficulty  of  get- 
ting female  patients  to  be  their  own  confessors.  If 
they  appoint  others,  every  possible  information 
should  be  furnished,  and  fastidiousness  by  no  means 
should  supplant  the  avowal  of  real  facts. 

The  urethral  and  vaginal  discharge  is  so  acrid  in 


186       INFLAMMATION  CF  THE  PROSTATE. 

some  cases  as  to  excoriate  the  labia,  and  to  give  rise 
to  excrescences,  vegetations  and  warts,  which  may 
be  succeeded  by  ulceration  or  sloughing  of  the  af- 
fected part. 

INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  PROSTATE  GLAND. 

This,  though  not  so  frequent  a  complication  of 
gonorrhoea  as  the  foregoing,  is  a  troublesome  and 
painful  complaint.  It  is  seldom  seen  except  in  at- 
tendance upon  those  acute  and  obstinate  cases 
which  occur  in  scrofulous  and  irritable  constitutions. 
The  inflammation  in  these  cases,  commencing  at  the 
orifice,  speedily  runs  up  the  passage  to  the  bladder, 
involving  the  prostate  in  its  course. 

The  symptoms  of  this  affection  are  a  heavy  ach- 
ing in  the  perineum,  extending  often  to  the  rectum, 
and  causing  an  ineffectual  urging  to  relieve  the  bow- 
els. Pressure  over  the  prostate  is  intolerable,  and 
the  patient  is  unable  to  sit.  The  gland  swells,  and 
may  be  examined  per  anum,  and  felt  also  externally . 

IRRITATION  OF  THE  BLADDER. 

This  is  common,  and  at  times  a  very  distressing 
accompaniment  of  gonorrhoea.  Few  acute  cases  are 
free  from  it.  It  commonly  comes  on  early  in  the 
disease,  being  coincidental  with  the  most  inflamma- 
tory stage  of  the  attack.  Its  leading  symptom  is  a 
painful,  and,  in  some  cases,  almost  incessant  urg- 
ing to  pass  water;  and  the  suffering  is  often  the 
greatest  the  moment  after  the  bladder  has  been  emp- 
tied. The  urine  is  generally  loaded  with  mucous* 
and,  in  some  cases,  is  intermixed  with  blood 


INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  BLADDER.  18? 
INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  BLADDER. 

Inflammation  of  the  bladder,  or  Cystitis,  is  usually 
caused  by  injuries,  irritating  dinreties,  injections  or 
diseases  of  adjacent  viscera,  or  is  the  result  of  gon- 
orrhoea, occurring  as  a  consequence  of  the  extension 
of  the  inflammation  along  the  continuous  mucous 
surface  common  to  the  urethra  and  bladder  ;but  it  may 
be  produced  by  any  cause  that  occasions  irritation. 
It  has  also  been  attributed  in  rare  instances,  to  the 
gonorrhoeal  discharge  finding  its  way,  or  being  forced 
into  the  bladder,  and  there  lighting  up  inflammation 
similar  to  that  affecting  the  urethral  walls.  All  those 
causes  which  aggravate  the  urethritis  may  occur  in. 
exciting  cystitis,  among  which  may  be  mentioned 
sexual  intercourse, indulgence  in  alcoholic  stimulants 
including  malt  liquors;  fatigue,  and  the  use  of  highly 
irritant  injections.  Cystitis  never  occurs  at  the  com- 
mencement of  an  attack  of  gonorrhoea,  but  usually 
toward  its  decline,  after  the  disease  has  had  time  to 
invade  the  deeper  portions  of  the  urethra. 

Cystitis  is  almost  always  confined  to  the  neck  of  the 
bladder.  The  first  symptoms  that  attract  the  atten- 
tion of  the  patient  are  a  frequent  desire  to  pass  his 
urine,  and  a  feeling  of  heaviness  in  the  perineum, 
which  is  frequently  accompanied  by  a  tickling  or 
itching  sensation  at  the  extremity  of  the  penis.  The 
urine  is  high  colored  and  deposits  upon  standing  a 
more  or  less  copious,  stringy,  and  whitish  sediment, 
composed  chiefly  of  pus  and  mucous ;  and  the  urethral 
discharge  usually  becomes  more  free  and  purulent. 


188 


SWELLED  TESTICLES. 


In  acute  cases  the  symptoms  are  much  more  severe; 
there  is  a  decided  pain  in  the  perineum  and  across 
the  hypogastric  region,  radiating  to  the  head  of  the 
penis,  the  testicles  and  the  groins;  the  desire  to 
micturate  recurs  every  few  minutes,  when  only  a  very 
small  quantity  of  dark-colored  urine  can  with  diffi- 
culty and  pain  be  evacuated,  followed  sometimes  by 
a  few  drops  of  pure  blood,  and  usually  by  most  dis- 
tressing  tenesmus  at  the  vesicle  neck,  which  the  pa- 
tient endeavors  to  relieve  by  pressing  with  one  hand 
upon  the  perineum,  while  with  the  other  he  pinches 
the  extremity  of  the  penis.  In  such  cases  there  is 
usually  some  degree  of  febrile  disturbance,  indicated 
by  a  frequent  pulse,  loss  of  appetite,  anxiety  of  coun- 
tenance, general  depression,  and  intense  thirst.  Re- 
tention of  the  urine  is  rare  in  gonorrhoeal  cystitis; 
but  it  occasionally  occurs  as  a  consequence  of  the 
loss  of  contractility  in  the  vesicle  walls,  and  the  dis- 
tended bladder  can  then  be  felt  above  the  pubes. 

SWELLED  TESTICLES. 

The  most  frequent  complication  of  gonorrhoea  is 
an  affection  of  the  scrotal  organs,  known  by  the 
name  of  swelled  testicle  or  orchitis. 

In  the  early  stages  of  urethral  gonorrhoea  the  in- 
flammation is  generally  confined  to  the  neighborhood 
of  the  fossa  navicularis .  At  a  later  period,  however, 
the  deeper  portions  of  the  canal  are  involved,  and  the 
disease  thus  gains  access  to  the  ejaculatory  duct,  and, 
under  the  influence  of  any  exciting  cause, may  extend 
along  the  spermatic  canal  to  the  epididymis,  or  even 


SWELLED  TESTICLES. 


189 


beyond  this,  to  the  testicle  and  the  tissues  which  en- 
velop it .  The  patient '  s  own  sensations  will  sometimes 
indicate  that  in  this  mode  has  originated  the  affection 
of  the  testicle.  He  has  felt  a  dull  pain  in  the  peri- 
neum and  the  groin,  along  the  course  of  the  sper- 
matic vessels,  for  a  day  or  two  before  he  observed  the 
tenderness  and  swelling  of  the  testes.  Again,  we  may 
find  additional  evidence  in  the  fact  that  the  cord 
corresponding  to  the  inflamed  testicle  can  be  felt  ex- 
ternally to  be  swollen  and  hard,  and  can  be  traced 
from  the  testicle  through  the  inguinal  canal,  even  to 
the  iliac  fossa.  Post-mortem  examinations  also,  have 
exhibited  ordinary  appearances  of  inflammatory  ac- 
tion through  the  whole  of  the  canal  connecting  the 
testicles  and  urethra.  There  can  be  but  little  doubt, 
therefore,  that  in  many  and  probably  in  most  cases, 
swelled  testicle  owes  its  origin  to  the  extension  of 
the  inflammation  along  a  continuous  mucous  sur- 
face. 

In  some  cases  of  swelled  testicle,  after  the  more 
acute  symptoms  have  subsided,  the  parts  still  re- 
main engorged,  and  the  disease  shows  a  tendency  to 
become  chronic.  This  is  most  likely  to  occur  in  pa- 
tients of  a  weak  habit,  and  while  this  condition  lasts 
the  least  exciting  cause  may  induce  a  return  of  the 
acute  inflammation. 

Most  cases  of  swelled  testicle,  if  appropriately 
treated,  terminate  favorably.  In  some  rare  instances, 
abscesses  form  in  the  cellular  tissue  underlying  the 
scrotum,  or  in  the  epididymis  or  body  of  the  testicle, 


190 


STRICTURE. 


STRICTURE. 

By  this  term  is  meant  a  narrow?  tig  ot  sotnf.  portion 
of  the  urethra,  by  which  its  capacity  is  lessened  and 
the  flow  of  the  urine  from  the  bladder  impeded.  The 
common  cause  of  stricture  is  the  inflammation  at- 
tendant upon  gonorrhoea,  in  which  disease  the  whole 
length  of  the  urethra  is  sometimes  involved.  There 
may  be  one  or  several  strictures,  and  the  whole  or  a 
portion  only  of  the  circumference  of  the  canal  may 
be  implicated.  The  earliest  symptom  is  ordinarily 
an  increased  frequency  in  the  desire  to  empty  the 
bladder,  or  the  retention  of  a  few  drops  of  the  urine, 
which  dribble  afterward,  and  on  the  cooling,  the  urine 
deposits  a  cloud  of  mucus.  The  obstruction  in 
voiding  urine  increases  with  the  growth  of  the  stric- 
ture, and  the  stream  becomes  smaller,  twisted  and 
split.  In  almost  every  recent  case,  there  is  also,  a 
gleety  discharge.  Indeed,  the  obstinate  persistence  of 
this  discharge  is  one  of  the  most  unfailing  signs  of 
the  existence  of  stricture.  In  aggravated,  long-stand- 
ing and  neglected  cases  of  this  complaint,  the  patient's 
sufferings  are  sometimes  truly  distressing.  The  irri- 
tation extends  to  the  urinary  organs — the  bladder 
becomes  disorganized  by  the  action  of  offensive  am- 
moniacal  urine,  from  the  irritating  presence  of  which 
it  is  never  free,  and  ultimately  the  kidneys  become 
involved  in  the  destructive  process.  The  patient  is 
constantly  impelled  to  fruitless  efforts  to  empty  the 
bladder;  his  rest  is  thereby  broken,  his  appetite  fails, 
his  general  healthbecomes  impaired,andunless  timely 


SYPHILIS. 


191 


relief  is  afforded,  hectica  succeeds,  and  he  sinks 
under  an  accumulation  of  evils. 

What  is  called  spasmodic  stricture  seems  to  be 
simply  an  aggravation  of  an  already  existing  stric- 
ture by  some  exciting  cause,  as  a  sudden  cold,  over* 
indulgence  in  alcoholic  drinks,  and  the  like. 

syphilis. 

Syphilis  is  one  of  the  class  of  diseases  called  infec- 
tious, and  is  characterized  by  the  presence  of  a  mor- 
bid poison  by  which  the  disease  is  transmitted  from 
one  person  to  another.  The  existence  of  a  specific 
virus  was  at  one  time  called  in  question  by  some, 
but  at  the  present  day  it  is  established  beyond  any 
question  whatever.  Daily  experience  demonstrates 
that  in  syphilis  there  exists  a  contagious  element  by 
means  of  which  the  disease  is  communicated,  and 
though  this  morbid  poison  cannot  be  detected  by 
the  senses,  by  the  microscope  or  chemical  analysis, 
its  presence  is  fully  proved  by  its  effects. 

As  stated  above,  syphilis  depends  upon  the  intro- 
duction into  the  system  of  its  peculiar  virus.  This 
may  be  accomplished  in  various  ways.  In  the  great 
majority  of  instances  the  disease  is  communicated  by 
sexual  intercourse.  It  may  also  be  contracted  from 
the  body  and  bedclothes  of  a  person  bearing  the  dis* 
ease,  by  surgical  instruments,  by  chambers  and  watei 
closets,  by  the  fingers  of  an  infected  individual.  In 
fact,  a  person  may  be  inoculated  upon  the  lips,  nose, 
eyelids  or  any  raw  or  abraded  surface  upon  any  por- 
tion of  the  body.    The  disease  may  also  be  commu- 


192 


PRIMARY  SYPHILIS. 


nicattd  by  either  or  both  parents  to  their  offspring. 

Syphilis  is  usually  divided  into  three  stages,  and 
each  has  symptoms  peculiar  to  itself.  These  are 
known  as  Primary,  Secondary  and  Tertiary. 

PRIMARY  SYPHILIS. 

The  lesions  peculiar  to  primary  syphilis  are  the 
chancre  or  ulcer  and  an  enlargement  of  the  lymph- 
atic ganglions  of  the  groin,  or  bubo. 

The  Chancre. — Although  a  chancre  may  occur  on 
any  part  of  the  body,  yet  it  is  by  far  most  common 
on  the  genital  organs.  Its  common  sites  are  the 
head  of  the  penis  and  prepuce,  the  vulva,  vagina 
and  uterus.  The  disease  may  also  attack  the  ureth- 
ra in  both  sexes,  especially  in  the  male,  although 
the  occurrence  is  very  uncommon.  Any  portion  of 
the  head  or  foreskin  of  the  penis  may  be  affected, 
but  of  the  former,  the  corona,  or  rather  the  gutter 
just  behind  the  corona,  and  the  surface  on  each  side 
of  the  frenum,  are  most  liable  to  be  involved,  from 
the  circumstance  that  these  parts  are  particularly 
apt  to  retain  the  infecting  matter;  for  the  same  rea~ 
son  the  free  extremity  of  the  prepuce  is  very  prone 
to  suffer.  A  severe  chancre  occasionally  forms  on 
the  body  or  root  of  the  penis.  In  the  female,  the 
disease  sometimes  occurs  on  the  perineum,  on  the 
outer  surface  of  the  labium,  and  around  the  anus. 

A  chancre  upon  the  mucous  surface  of  the  genital 
organ  does  not  always  pass  through  the  same  regu- 
lar stages  as  a  chancre  upon  the  skin  from  artificial 
inoculation.    On  the  contrary, it  frequently  begins  as 


PRIMARY  SYPHILIS.  193 

an  ulcer,  in  consequence  of  the  matter  having  been 
brought  in  direct  contact  with  the  abraded  surface , 
or  a  scratch,  and  in  this  case  the  evolution  of  the  dis- 
ease is  always  peculiarly  rapid  and  well-marked. 
Sometimes  the  chancre  is  so  small  as  to  escape  the 
observation  of  the  patient.  At  other  times,  again  it 
commences  as  a  boil  or  an  abscess.  This  form  is  most 
common  when  the  inoculation  has  taken  place  from 
the  matter  having  insinuated  itself  into  the  orifice  of 
a  mucuous  follicle.  Under  such  circumstances,  the 
gland  swells  and  becomes  softened,  and  is  soon  after 
destroyed  by  ulcerative  action.  Moreover,  it  is  impor- 
tant to  remember  that  the  viscular  and  pustular 
stages  may  have  passed  by  unnoticed,  and  that,  con- 
consequently,  when  the  sore  is  first  inspected  it  may 
possess  all  the  character  of  a  well-defined  chancre.  No 
general  symptomsprecede  or  usher  in  the  local  disease, 
whatever  may  be  the  form  in  which  it  begins;all  that 
the  patient  experiences  is  a  slight  sensation  of  heat, 
some  itching,  and  an  increase  of  the  sensibility  of  the 
part  which  is  about  to  become  the  seat  of  the  infection. 

Chancre  presents  itself  under  two  varieties  of  form, 
the  indurated  or  hard,  and  non-indurated  or  soft,  all 
distinction  being  now  abandoned,  on  the  ground 
that,  whatever  difference  of  appearance  the  sore  may 
exhibit,  they  are  solety  and  entirely  of  an  accidental 
character,  and,  therefore,  altogether  independent  of 
the  nature  of  the  syphilitic  virus. 

The  indurated  chancre  is  usually  rounded  or  some- 
what oval,  and  from  the  diameter  of  a  split  pea  to 
that  of  a  five  cent  piece.    Its  surface  is  hollow,  as  if 


194 


SECONDARY  SYPHILIS. 


scooped  out,  and  incrusted  with  a  layer  of  lymph,  of 
a  ditty  grayish  color,  and  very  firmly  adherent.  The 
edges  of  the  ulcer  are  hard,  slightly  elevated,  and 
inclined  a  little  slopingly  from  within  outward. 

The  indurated  chancre  has  no  distinct  areola;  its 
march  is  indolent,  and  it  furnishes  a  thin,  serous, 
sanguinolent  or  ichorous  fluid,  small  in  quantity 
and  difficult  of  inoculation.  Hence,  unless  the  mat- 
ter comes  in  contact  with  a  raw  surface,  or  a  surface 
well  adapted  for  its  absorption,  a  second  chancre  sel- 
dom arises  during  the  progress  of  the  primary  one. 

The  soft  chancre,  also  generally  of  a  rounded  form  , 
but  less  regularly  so  than  the  hard,  is  much  more 
common  than  the  latter,  and  is  often  multiple,  from 
three  to  six  or  eight  occasionally  occurring  in  the 
same  subject.  It  is  particularly  apt  to  show  itself  at 
the  fine  margin  of  the  prepuce,  and  at  or  just  behind 
the  corona  of  the  penis.  Several  often  arise  simul- 
taneously, and  others  are  liable  to  form  during  their 
progress  from  fresh  inoculation,  or  the  mere  contact 
of  their  own  secretion  with  the  surrounding  parts. 
The  surface  of  the  soft  chancre  is  superficial,  flat, 
uneven,  and  coated  with  a  grayish,  whitish,  or  dirty 
drab  colored  deposit. 

SECONDARY  SYPHILIS. 

The  term  secondary  syphilis  is  applied  to  the  le- 
sions that  follow  the  primary  form  of  the  disease. 
Secondary  syphilis  usually  supervenes  in  about  eight 
weeks  after  contagion.  In  some  it  appears  earlier 
than  I  have  mentioned,  while  in  others  it  does  not 
appear  until  a  later  period. 


SECONDARY  SYPHILIS.  195 

It  must  be  remembered  that  every  patient  does  not 
have  all  the  symptoms  of  secondary  syphilis  that  I 
am  about  to  mention;  if  he  has  received  treatment  it 
is  likely  that  but  few  of  them  will  occur. 

The  appearance  of  general  syphilis  is  in  most  in- 
stances preceded  by  certain  symptoms,  which  re- 
semble those  that  usher  in  other  eruptive  diseases 
and  which  have  been  called  the  "syphilitic  fever." 

Although  these  symptoms  usually  precede  by  eight 
or  ten  days  secondary  eruptions,  it  is  impossible  to 
regard  them  as  mere  fore-runners  of  the  latter,  since 
they  frequently  continue  after  the  eruption  appears, 
and  in  some  cases  commence  at  the  same  time  or  even 
follow  it.  They  never  occur  alone  without  being  fol- 
lowed by  other  manifestations  of  syphilitic  poisoning; 
are  most  common  in  connection  with  the  first  out- 
break of  secondary  symptoms,  but  may  accompany, 
usually  in  less  degree,  a  second  or  third  attack. 

These  symptoms  consist  chiefly  of  headache,  pains 
resembling  neuralgia  or  rheumatism  in  various  parts 
of  the  bod3r,  and  a  general  feeling  of  malaise  or  list- 
lessness.  The  patient  is  depressed  in  spirits;  has  a 
pale,  sallow  and  haggard  look,  is  disinclined  to  at^ 
tend  his  ordinary  occupation,  and  loses  flesh,  although 
he  may  eat  his  usual  quantity  of  food;  the  hair  gen- 
erally falls  out  to  a  considerable  extent.  He  also 
suffers  from  headache,  which  may  be  nocturnal,  but 
which,  most  frequently,  unlike  the  cephalalgia  of 
tertiary  syphilis,  recurs  in  paroxysms  of  considerable 
severitv .  without  reference  to  the  period  of  day  and 
nigbt. 


196    SPYHILITIC  AFFECTIONS  OF  THE  SKIN. 

It  is  sometimes  diffused  over  the  whole  cranium, 
and  at  others  confined  to  the  frontal  region.  In  some 
instances  periodical  attacks  of  a  febrile  character  are 
met  with,  consisting  of  a  chill  followed  by  a  hot 
stage  and  sweating,  occuring  with  great  regularity 
at  a  certain  hour  of  the  day,  generally  toward  even- 
ing, and  hence,  liable  to  be  mistaken  for  intermit- 
tent fever. 

In  some  cases  the  digestive  functions  are  disorder- 
ed, the  appetite  is  diminished,  the  tongue  coated, 
and  the  patient  is  attacked  with  nausea  and  diarrhoea. 
In  others  these  symptoms  are  absent  and  the  appe- 
tite may  even  be  inordinately  increased.  Epistaxis, 
oedema  of  the  lower  extremities,  palpitation,  and  a 
bruit  de  souffle  accompanying  the  first  sound  of  the 
heart,  and  audible  both  in  the  cardiac  region  and 
over  the  carotids,  have  also  been  noted. 

These  symptoms  generally  become  more  severe, 
and  persist  for  some  time  after  the  appearance  of 
the  eruptions,  though',  in  some  instances,  they  sud- 
denly cease  upon  the  outbreak  of  syphilitic  erythema 
or  papulae,  or  diminish  and  gradually  disappear  in 
the  course  of  one  or  two  weeks.  They  are  not  ben- 
efitted by  mercury,  but  on  the  contrary,  are  increased 
if  this  agent  be  used  to  excess;  and  this  fact  would 
seem  to  indicate  that  they  are  not  directly  depend- 
ent upon  syphilitic  poisoning. 

SYPHILITIC  AFFECTIONS  OF  THE  SKIN. 

Syphilitic  are  distinguished  from  other  eruptions 
by  certain  peculiarities,  no  one  of  which,  by  itself, 


6YPHILITIC  AFFECTIONS  OF  THE  SKIN.  197 
possesses  absolute  value,  but  several  of  which  com- 
bined are  generally  sufficient  to  establish  the  diagno- 
sis. 

The  color  of  a  syphilitic  eruption  will  often  indicate 
its  origin.  No  very  definite  idea  of  this  color,  how- 
ever, can  be  conveyed  by  words.  The  older  writers 
on  venereal  compared  it  to  the  cut  surface  of  a  ham  ; 
it  is  now  commonly  known  as  the  copper  color  ;  but 
both  these  comparisons  fail  to  convey  a  perfect  idea 
of  the  exact  hue  that  is  intended.  It  is  best  described 
as  a  reddish-brown,  with  a  slight  admixture  of  yel- 
low, which,  in  many  cases,  is  modified  by  the  natural 
color  of  the  skin,  and  by  the  age  of  the  eruption. 

The  copper  color  of  syphilitic  eruptions,  however, 
is  by  no  means  constant,  and  may  be  simulated  by 
various  forms  of  skin  disease  which  are  not  depend- 
ent upon  the  syphilitic  virus.  Thus,it  is  never  seen 
in  mucous  patches  which  are  either  red  or  of  a  gray- 
ish-white hue.  It  is  absent  in  most  cases  of  syphilitic 
erythema  at  the  commencement  of  the  eruption,  and 
only  appears  as  the  blotches  begin  to  fade  away;  and 
as  a  general  rule,  in  nearly  all  syphilitic  eruptions 
the  copper  color  is  less  marked  at  an  early  than  at  a 
late  period.  Again,  the  cicatrices  of  lupus,  acne,  and 
variola,  may  assume  a  reddish-brown  color  which  is 
readily  mistaken  for  the  copper  color  of  syphilis.  In 
spite  of  these  various  sources  of  error,  which  with 
care  may  generally  be  avoided,  the  peculiarity  re- 
ferred to  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  means  of  dis- 
tinguishing syphilitic  eruptions  from  those  of  sim- 
ple origin. 


198  SYPHILITIC  TUBERCLES. 

SYPHILITIC  TUBERCLES. 

Tubercles,  like  papulae,  are  solid  elevations  of  the 
hernia,  but  differ  from  the  latter  in  their  larger  size, 
the  greater  depth  to  which  they  involve  their  tissues, 
the  later  period  of  their  development,  and  their 
marked  tendency  to  ulceration. 

Tubercles  are  rarely  if  ever,  the  first  syphilitic 
manifestations  upon  the  skin.  It  may  be  laid  down 
as  a  rule,  to  which  there  are  probably  no  exceptions, 
that  they  have  in  all  cases  been  preceeded  by  some 
one  of  the  more  superficial  syphilodermata,  as  ery- 
thema or  papules.  They  are  to  be  ranked  among 
the  late  symptoms  of  syphilis,  and  may  occur  ten, 
twenty  or  even  forty  years  after  contagion. 

TERTIARY  SYPHILIS. 

When  the  specific  poison  has  deeply  penetrated 
the  system,  and  become,  as  it  were,  inlaid  in  its  dif- 
ferent structures,  as  well  as  thoroughly  commingled 
with  the  blood,  the  effect  which  it  produces  consti- 
tute what  is  denominated  as  tertiary  syphilis,  which 
usually  supervenes  within  two  years  after  the  appear- 
ance of  the  chancre. 

The  textures  which  are  particularly  prone  to  suffer 
in  tertiary  syphilis  are  the  skin,  mucous  membranes, 
periosteum,  bones,  fibro- cartilages,  aponeuroses, ten- 
dons and  testicles.  All  parts  of  the  economy,  how- 
ever are  involved  in  the  contamination,  and  it  is  ex- 
tremely probable  that  in  the  worst  cases,  hardly  any 
organ  or  structure  entirely  escapes.  The  affections  of 
the  internal  viscera,  however,  although  alluded  to  by 


PICTURES  FROM  REAL  LIFE.  199 

many  of  the  older  syphilographers,  have  only  of  late 
attracted  serious  attention,  and  hence  the  amount 
and  nature  of  their  participation  in  this  poisonous 
process  have  not  yet  been  satisfactorily  ascertained. 
Enough,  however,  has  been  determined  to  produce 
conviction  that  the  changes  in  lungs,  brain,  heart, 
liver,  and  other  organs  are  often  of  a  grave  character, 
liable  to  be  followed  by  the  worst  results,  because  so 
insiduous  are  their  approaches  and  progress  that  even 
their  existence  is  hardly  ever  suspected  during  life, 
to  say  nothing  of  the  impossibility  of  arresting  them 
by  any  known  treatment  or  combination  of  remedies. 
The  most  common  of  these  internal  lesions,  which 
have,  strangely  enough,  been  termed  secondary,  are 
foul,  ragged-looking  abscesses,  with  imperfectly 
elaborated  contents,  softening  and  pulpy  degenera- 
tion and  tubercular  deposits.  Attention  has  not  yet 
been  sufficiently  directed  to  the  alterations  of  the 
ovaries  of  females  who  die  of  tertiary  S3^philis;  but 
from  the  resemblance  which  exists  between  these  or- 
gans and  the  testes, both  in  structures  and  function, 
and  from  the  fact  that  the  latter  are  so  often  involv- 
ed in  the  disease,  it  is  highly  probable  that  it  will 
be  found,  as  our  pathological  researches  are  extend- 
ed, that  they  frequently  seriously  participate  in  the 
morbid  action. 

PICTURES  FROM  REAI,  UFE. 

These  are  not  intended  to  challenge  criticism,  nor 
excite  idle  curiosity.  Many  may  see  them  for  whom 
they  will  have  no  interest — who  may,  perhaps,  hardly 
understand  them.  They  will,  however,  fall  into  the 


^00  PICTURES  FROM  REAL  LIFE, 

hands  of  some  few  who  thoroughlycomprehend  their 
purpose,  and  for  whom  they  will  have  a  solemn  in- 
terest. They  are,  to  those  few,  addressed  in  earnest 
solicitude,  by  one  who  desires  to  minister  to  their 
sorrows  and  to  mitigate  their  infirmities.  I  ask,  in 
good  faith  and  kindness  of  heart,  one  favot  from  the 
person  who  may  receive  this  copy.  I  beg  of  him  to 
read  it  carefully,  thoroughly;  and  if  he  finds  in  it 
nothing  that  has  a  personal  application  to  him,  to  pre- 
sent it  to  some  young  man  of  his  acquaintance.  It 
may  thus  find  a  reader  for  whom  it  may  have  a  pecu- 
liar interest.  I  entreat  that  reader  to  weigh  my 
words  calmly  and  deliberately,  for  on  the  decision  of 
that  present  ten  minutes  will  hang, in  all  human  prob- 
ability, the  happiness  or  misery  of  his  future  days. 
In  that  time  may  be  determined  whether  he  shall 
live  an  ornament  to  society,  an  honor  to  his  name, 
a  healthy,  happy  man,  or  whether  he  shall  sink  into 
the  poor,  pitiful,  joyless,  nerveless,  prematurely  old 
man,  without  heart,  health  or  hope. 

PICTURE  FIRST:  THE  YOUNG  SENSUALIST. 
"The  glory  of  a  young  man  is  his  strength." 
In  the  great  battle  of  life  there  is  need  that  each 
combatant  should  have  a  brave  heart  and  well-braced 
nerves,  for  the  fight  is  long  and  arduous,  and  the 
weak  and  timid  have  no  chance  therein.  Nor  is  the 
work  all  toil;  the  high  endeavor — the  end  in  view — 
makes  ot  it  a  pleasure,  and  as  we  watch  the  passers- 
by  in  the  broad  thoroughfares  of  the  city,  every  face 
seems  eager  and  earnest.  No,  not  every  face.  Here 


PICTURES  FROM  REAL  LIFE.  201 

conies  one,  alone — a  solitary  one.  He  is  young,  but 
he  has  none  of  the  busy  characteristics  of  his  fellow- 
men:  Listless  in  his  manner,  timid  in  his  air,  he 
wanders  rather  than  walks  through  the  crowded 
street.  May  be  he  is  a  clerk,  or  a  student  or  a  me- 
chanic. But  why  is  he  so  vacant  and  sad?  It  is  but 
three  or  four  short  years  since,  with  father's  bless- 
ing and  a  mother' s  prayers,  he  went  forth  into  the 
world  to  conquer  fortune,  and  to  "make  himself  a 
man."  Then  his  nerves  were  firm,  his  mind  was 
buoyant  his  step  was  light,  and  his  hopes  were  high. 
But  these  few  short  years  have  wrought  a  sad  and 
fearful  change.  Now,  neither  hope  nor  ambition  finds 
a  place  in  his  bosom.  The  fresh  vigor  of  his  youth 
is  replaced  by  a  weariness  of  life,  even  while  his  foot 
is  yet  but  on  its  threshold.  See  how  vacant  and  ob- 
jectless is  his  gaze !  His  hand  wanders  to  his  forehead, 
which  it  feverishly  presses,  whilst  a  deep  sigh  escap- 
ing him  tells  of  nervous  exhaustion,  and  of  a  mind 
brooding  over  darkling  thoughts.  If  yon  knew  him 
as  a  child  you  are  struck  with  the  change.  Then  he 
was  robust  and  stout;  now  he  is  thin  and  pale.  Then 
his  eye  would  flash  fire,  as  he  dashed  with  energy  in 
to  some  boyish  game;  now  he  turns  aside  from  old 
companions,  and  frowns  on  what  were  once  delights. 
And,  hark!  that  hectic  cough  that  shakes  his  frame, 
exhausts  his  breath,  and  tells  of  an  undermined  con- 
stitution, and,  perhaps,  of  the  dread  approach  of 
consumption.  Speak  to  him.  What  says  he?  "He 
has  been  ill,  and  growing  worse  for  a  year  or  so.  He 
cannot  account  for  it,  and  the  doctor  does  not  se*?m 


202  PICTURES  FROM  REAL  LIFE. 

to  do  him  any  good,  or  to  know  what  is  the  cause  of 
his  illness.  His  eyes  are  weak,  and  his  memory 
gets  very  bad. "  Poor  fellow!  It  is  a  sad  tale.  Is 
there  no  solution  ?    Yes;  come  with  me. 

It  is  night  time.  He  has  retired  to  his  bed.  Let 
us  lift  the  veil  of  night,  and  gaze  on  him  when  he 
fondly  fancies  that  no  eye  is  upon  him.  Does  he 
sleep  the  sleep  of  conscious  rectitude — enjoy  the 
welcome  repose  of  a  self-satisfied  mind?  No,  alas! 
What  tempest  of  passion — what  hurricane  of  lust  is 
this  that  sweeps  across  the  soul  ?  Why  do  his  eye- 
balls glare  on  vacancy  ?  Why  does  his  cheek  flush 
now  like  fire,  now  become  pallid  as  death  ?  Why 
does  his  pure  heart  now  beat  as  if  it  would  burst 
through  its  tenement  of  flesh  and  bone,  and  anon 
scarce  indicate  a  fitful  pulse  ?  And  now  why  does 
he  sink  sighing  and  exhausted,  helpless  and  lifeless 
upon  his  pillow  ?  The  fearful  truth  is  all  revealed. 
Sensuality  has  only  too  faithfully  painted  its  deep 
lines  on  his  body  and  mind.  The  picture  is  only 
too  complete.  Before  you  lies  a  poor,  self-destroy- 
ing, self-debauching,  nervous,  joyless  Onanist. 

1  'A  shocking  picture  indeed!"  some  of  my  readers 
exclaim,  "but  surely  a  little  overdrawn  ?"  Not  so. 
The  silent  tortures,  the  voiceless  sorrows  endured 
by  those  who  persist  from  year  to  year  in  the  prac- 
tice of  Onanism,  exceed  the  descriptive  power  of  my 
pen,  or  of  any  other.  Instead  of  exaggerating,  every 
true  mind  sinks  appalled  from  the  magnitude  and 
sternness  with  which  these  evils  haunt  the  footsteps 
of  those  who  persist  in  the  practice,  whether  wil- 
fully or  ignorantly. 


PICTURES  FROM  REAL  LIFE.  203 
PICTURE  SECOND:  THE  BATCHELOR  SENSUALIST. 

In  every  community  there  are  many  middle-aged 
men,  who,  from  choice  or  necessity,  have  not  assum- 
ed the  responsibilities  of  married  life.  It  may  be  that 
they  have  failed  to  secure  one  whom  they  have  fond- 
ly loved  in  youth;  it  may  be  that  they  have  deter- 
mined to  secure  a  higher  position, and  a  more  assured 
income  before  marriage.  As  a  general  rule  these 
men  are  hard-working,  energetic  men  of  business, 
strictly  temperate,  well  educated, saving  in  their  hab- 
its, and  highly  esteemed  in  society.  But  there  are 
amongst  them  others  altogether  different — men  of  shy 
habits  and  downcast  looks,  sometimes  of  morose  and 
and  peevish  minds.  In  what  should  be  the  very 
prime  of  their  life,  they  find  their  constitution  failing 
them.  They  have  well-grounded  fears  that  manhood, 
vigor,  mental  and  bodily,  are  fast  leaving  them.  I 
have  been  consulted  by  many  such.  Their  usual 
theme  has  been  "Why  do  I  suffer?  Have  I  not  led  a 
sober,  temperate  and  sensible  life?  Have  I  ever  been 
guilty  of  dissipation  or  debauch?  My  life  has  been 
regular;  I  have  kept  early  hours — lived  in  good,  well- 
ventilated,  cheerful  homes;  my  diet  has  been  sound 
and  wholesome,  and  I  have  taken  sufficient  and  reg- 
ular exercise."  All  this  is  true.  Every  rule  tending 
to  health  and  happiness  has  been  observed,  save  one. 
Understand,  my  friend, the  blood  is  the  life.  Do 
you  know  that  one  ounce  of  the  semen  is  equivalent 
to  FORTY  ounces  of  blood?  Be  no  longer  ignorant — 
you  are  answered.    The  secret  sin — the  sin  of  Onau 


204  PICTURES  FROM  REAL  LIFE. 

— has  been  draining  your  heart' s  blood  foj  years,  Be 
assured  that  no  man  can  commit  evil  without  evil 
consequences — for  '  'Sorrow  tracketh  wrong  forever 
and  ever. ' ' 

When  the  constitution  is  healthy  and  vigorous,  it 
may  resist  the  consequences  for  years,  but  the  ulti- 
mate effect  will  be  all  the  more  aggravated.  The  vital 
force,  unable  to  bear  the  waste  of  more  than  life, 
gives  way  suddenly.  The  healthy,  midHle-aged  man 
becomes  a  confirmed  invalid.  Worse— infinitely  worse 
it  is  when  such  a  man  ignorantly  marries.  I  remem- 
ber such  a  case.  The  gentleman  was  about  forty 
years  of  age.  He  had  gradually  worked  his  way  up 
(without  capital)  from  the  position  of  book-keeper, 
at  a  few  shillings  a  week,  to  salesman, buyer, and  ul- 
timately partner,  in  one  of  the  greatest  commercial 
houses  in  G.  This  fact  speaks  volumes  for  his  mental 
activity  and  unblemished  integrity.  He  was  a  person- 
able man,  stout  of  limb,  healthy  in  appearance, but  a 
confirmed  private  sensualist.  Years  had  passed  since 
he  first  addicted  himself  to  the  unfortunate  habit — 
yet  hitherto  his  system  had  resisted  the  constant 
drain  upon  its  vital  resources.  Not  that  he  had  been 
without  warnings.  Sometimes  a  failing  eye,  wander- 
mind,  an  unwilling  stomach, perchance  restless  nights 
and  vague  discomfort.  He  soothes  his  conscience, 
and  says,  "I  work  too  hard,  I  have  indigestion,  I 
will  take  a  holiday,"  And  now  he  thinks  it  is  time 
he  should  marry.  His  position  is  assured — he  is  a 
wealthy  man — his  ambition  is  satisfied,  and  he  will 
seek  to  be  happy.    He  is,  to  all  outward  appearance, 


PICTURES  FROM  REAL  LIFE.  205 

an  acceptable  husband;  his  character  is  beyond  re- 
proach. He  only  knows  of  one  disreputable  phase 
which  disfigures  it,  and  that  he  determines  to  aban- 
don forever,  in  order  that  he  may  be  fit  for  the  pure 
and  virtuous  embraces  of  his  bride-elect.  His  sin 
has  found  him  out;  those  who  will  not  be  warned 
must  be  punished;  unhappily,  too,  the  innocent 
must  suffer  also.  He  marries,  and  on  the  nuptial 
couch,  in  the  arms  of  her  he  loves,  he — poor,  self- 
deluded,  self-ruined  sensuajist — discovers  that  the 
vigor  of  manhood  has  departed  from  him  forever ! 

But  there  is  another  and  more  frequent  cause  of 
matrimonial  unhappiness — a  cause  to  which  I  have 
already  directed  attention. 

Subjects  of  grave  and  painful  importance  require 
plain  and  intelligible  language.  I  will  therefore  say, 
emphatically  that  the  destructive  habit  of  self-abuse 
practiced  in  early  life,  fearfully  injures  the  energies 
concerned  in  the  reproduction  of  our  species,  and  the 
due  fulfillment  of  the  nuptial  right.  It  unfortunately 
happens  that  a  man  may  abandon  self-abuse  as  a 
voluntary  act,  and  yet  not  be  free  from  the  conse- 
quences of  his  former  folly.  A  new  and  natural  as- 
sociation has  been  established  between  the  organs 
of  generation  and  the  mind — involuntary  discharges 
of  semen  take  place  during  sleep;  the  seed  is  lost  in 
the  urine,  at  stool;  the  muscular  fibres  surrounding 
the  seminal  ducts  become  relaxed,  and  all  control 
over  their  action  is  entirely  lost.  Let  not  any,  then, 
imagine  that  having  incurred  the  judgment  of  guilt 
they  shall  escape  the  penalty,  unless  by  prudent  and 


206  PICTURES  FROM  REAL  LIFE. 

prompt  action,  and  attention  to  skilled  advice,  the 
instant  the  knowledge  of  that  guilt  and  the  certain- 
ty of  its  fearful  consequences  occur  to  them,  they  • 
adopt  the  only  measures  by  which  the  scourge  can 
be  averted.  Therefore,  let  me  solemnly  warn  any 
young  man  now  contemplating  marriage,  and  who 
may  at  times  have  indulged  in  the  secret  vice  of  the 
solitary  sensualist,  not  to  take  upon  himself  the  sa' 
cred  obligations  and  responsibilities  of  a  husband 
until  he  is  fully  satisfied  that  his  blood,  his  nervous 
system  and  his  procreative  powers  are  free  from  the 
morbid  effects  of  his  past  indulgence. 

PICTURE  THIRD:  THE  WIDOWER  SENSUALIST. 

A  man  who  could  sit  in  my  consulting  room  and 
listen  day  by  day  to  the  weary  tales  of  sin  and  suf- 
fering, folly  and  remorse,  which  are  continually 
poured  into  my  ear,  without  occasionally  weeping 
with  the  sufferers, is  a  man  whose  sternness  and  stub- 
bornness of  heart  I  do  not  envy.  For  myself  I  do 
not  blush  to  confess  that  during  such  confessions  I 
am  frequently  compelled  to  give  outward  signs  of 
my  sympathy  for  the  suffering  narrator,  and  the 
more  devoted  do  I  become  to  the  specialty  I  have 
made  of  these  diseases  for  the  last  twenty-five  years, 
and  the  more  determined  is  my  resolution  to  perse- 
vere to  the  end  in  probing  to  the  very  depths  of  sci- 
entific study  and  research. 

Of  all  the  pitiable  phases  presented  by  the  practice 
of  self-abuse,  none  is  so  pitiable  as  that  of  the  man, 
who,  having  been  bereft  of  the  partner  of  his  bed  at 


PICTURES  FROM  REAL  LIFE.  20? 

home,  abandons  himself  to  the  tyranny  of  self-lust, 
and  thus  precipitates  himself  into  a  dark  and  dismal 
gulf  of  bodily  and  mental  affliction.  * 

PICTURE  four:  the  skeptic  sensualist. 
I  can  imagine  one  of  my  readers,  who  has  glanced 
with  rapid  eye  over  the  preceeding  pages,  who  may 
exclaim:  "Ay,  ay,  doctor;  it  is  all  very  well,  and  I 
dare  say  there  are  some  two  or  three  in  a  million  to 
whom  these  facts  and  descriptions  apply,  but  they 
apply  to  very  few  !  I  believe  that  a  man  may  practice 
self-abuse  for  years,  and  really  suffer  no  evil  conse- 
quences. I  know  that  I  have  no  time,  no  means, 
nor  opportunity  for  indulging  myself  in  the  pleasure 
of  a  connubial  life,  and  I  have  resorted  to  this  habit 
to  relieve  myself  of  the  promptings  of  nature,  and  I 
am  neither  sick  nor  diseased;  I  have  had  none  of  the 
evils  you  speak  of,  and  I  don't  think  I  ever  shall." 

My  reply  is:  Gently,  my  friend;  do  not  draw  rash 
conclusions.  Listen  patiently  for  a  few  minutes,  and 
I  think  you  will  own  yourself  in  the  wrong.  If  you 
are  an  Onanist,  if  you  have  at  any  time  abandoned 
yourself  to  that  vice,  which  has  been  aptly  called 
the  "Adultry  of  the  mind,"  I  defy  you  to  say  truth- 
fully that  you  have  not  experienced  effects  more  or 
less  evil.  I  challenge  you,  as  an  honest  man,  to  say 
whether  you  have  not  had  your  warnings  ?  I  beg  of 
you,  specially  you,  skeptical  reader, — infatuated 
abuser  of  yourself — to  answer  to  your  own  soul,  in 
truth  and  sincerity,  a  few  questions  of  solemn  import 
•  touching  the  effects  of  self-abuse,  not  on  another  man. 


208  PICTURES  FROM  REAL  LIFE. 

but  on  yourself — on  your  own  precious  body  and 
mind.    Answer  them  truly,  seriously,  in  the  soli- 
tude of  your  own  chamber,  and  think  ere  you  reply. 
Are  you  an  Onanist? 

In  pursuit  of  the  baneful  and  degrading  practice 
of  self-abuse, have  you  ever  felt  it  to  be  a  sinful  prac- 
tice— unmanly,  unchristian  and  degrading  you  be- 
neath the  level  of  the  beast,  which  in  following  the 
mere  promptings  of  instinct  never  falls  so  low? 

Have  you  ever  yet  once  practiced  it  without,  in 
the  act,  making  up  your  mind  that  you  would  never 
repeat  it? 

Do  you  suffer  from  involuntary  nocturnal  emis- 
sions, or  are  you  ever  troub  ted  with  erections  with- 
out any  apparent  cause,  failure  of  erection  when  des- 
ired, or  premature  discharge  of  semen  during  coition? 

Have  you  dull  pains  in  the  groin,  pains  in  the 
back?  Does  your  sight  fail  you?  Have  you  nervous 
headache? 

Are  you  subject  to  pimples  on  the  face,  back  or 
forehead? 

Do  you  suffer  from  a  hacking  cough,  for  which  all 
remedies  have  been  unavailing? 

Are  you  fatigued  with  the  slightest  exertion,  and 
does  lassitnde  of  body  and  mind  overtake  you  with- 
out cause?  Are  you  restless  when  fatigued,  and  un- 
able to  obtain  refreshing  slumber? 

Have  you  lost  energy,  appetite,  power  of  enjoy- 
ment ?  Are  you  frequently  averse  to  society,  even 
of  intimate  friends  ?  Are  you  bashful  in  female  so- 
ciety,  unable  to  join  in  conversation? 


PICTURES  FROM  REAL  LEFE.  209 
Does  your  memory  fail  you  ?    Are  all  your  senses 
blunted  ? 

Do  you  fall  into  dream"  fits  of  abstraction,  brood- 
ing over  the  past,  hopeless  as  to  the  future — all  the 
noble  aspirations  forgotten  which  gilded  the  morn- 
ing of  your  career  ? 

Honestly,  thoughtfully,  mournfully,  recalling 
your  past  life,  are  you  not  certain  that  your  health 
would  have  been  better,  your  heart  stouter,  your 
hopes  brighter,  your  mind  and  thoughts  purer,  more 
dignified  and  manly,  if  you  had  not  acquired  for 
yourself  your  own  self-reproach? 

Let  the  victim  of  his  own  evil  passions  answer  these 
questions,  among  a  thousand  others  I  could  propose  to 
him.  Answer  them  truly,  honestly  and  without 
mental  reservation,  as  between  heaven  and  his  own 
conscience.  And  if  the  answer  to  them  or  any  part 
of  them,  be  the  one  emphatic  "Yes,"  how  will  he 
dare  to  say  he  has  indulged  his  vile  appetite  for 
solitary  excess  without  experiencing  some  of  its  at- 
tendant evils  ? — without  having  had  emphatic  warn- 
ing that  his  sin  is  finding  him  out,  and  that  days  and 
nights  of  woe  and  torture  are  now  impending,  un- 
less he  accepts  the  warning,  and  reverently  retraces 
his  steps  from  the  evil  path  he  has  chosen  ? 

Let  him,  therefore,  earnestly  endeavor  to  lead  a 
new  life,  lest  in  the  future  day,  as  he  has  sown  the 
storm,  so  will  he  reap  the  whirlwind,  when  the  tem- 
pest of  passion  and  lust  shall  have  left  him,  bereft 
of  all  but  an  enfeebled  mind,  and  a  body  racked — 


210  LIVER  COMPLAINT. 

preyed  upon  by  the  tortures  of  a  memory  bitterer 
than  death. 

But  I  hope  that  many  who  read  this  will  turn 
from  their  errors,  the  truth  will  prevail,  that  their 
conscience  will  be  awakened — alas!  so  many  err 
through  ignorance.  And  if  this  book  is  instrumen- 
tal in  saving  even  one  who  would  otherwise  have 
been  lost,  from  evils  leading  to  destruction,  I  am 
amply  rewarded — it  has  not  been  written  in  vain. 

LIVER  COMPLAINT. 

This  is  a  disease  much  talked  about,  but  at  the 
same  time,  very  imperfectly  understood.  Properly 
speaking,  every  derangement  of  the  liver  or  bilious 
system,  is  a  liver  complaint,  but  the  peculiar  state 
of  the  liver,  to  which  I  now  have  reference,  is  a  chronic 
affection,  and  usually  arises  from  a  torpid  or  conges- 
tive state  of  that  important  organ.  Sometimes  the 
bile  is  deficient  in  quantity  or  vitiated  in  quality,  or 
both  of  the  states  prevail  at  the  same  time;  some- 
times the  disease  is  owing  to  an  obstruction  in  the 
duct  or  pipe  which  conveys  the  bile  from  the  liver  in- 
to the  bowels.  The  obstruction  is  very  frequent,  and 
is  usually  caused  by  the  pipe  being  clogged  up  by  a 
thick,  tenacious  slime  or  mucus,  and  sometimes  by 
gall  stones.  The  bile  is  then  thrown  back  into  the 
gall  bladder,  which  conveys  it  into  the  thoracic  duct, 
a  pipe  that  runs  up  along  the  spine,  and  terminates 
in  and  empties  itself  into  the  large  vein  of  the  left 
shoulder,  near  its  junction  with  the  veins  of  the  head 
and  neck,  and  from  thence  the  bile  is  conveyed  to 


LIVER  COMPLAINT.  211 
the  heart,  and  becomes  mixed  with  the  blood.  The 
bile  in  this  manner,  being  diverted  from  its  proper 
course,  and  circulating  in  a  part  of "  the  body 
where  it  was  never  designed  to  by  Nature,  produces 
much  evil,  and  often  disastrous  effects  upon  the 
health  of  the  individual,  because,  for  the  want  of 
healthy  bile  to  mix  with  the  half-digested  food,  a 
complete  separation  never  takes  place  between  the 
chyle  (the  milky  liquid  which  forms  the  blood)  and 
those  portions  of  the  food  designed  by  nature  to  be 
ejected  from  the  bowels;  for  the  bile,  when  present, 
purifies  and  separates  the  healthy  from  the  unhealthy 
portions  in  the  same  manner  that  isinglass  or  white 
of  egg  separates  wine  or  cider  from  their  imperfec- 
tions, and  consequently  the  very  fountain  of  life  is 
vitiated  and  corrupted  at  its  source  ;  costiveness  pre- 
vails, or  alternately  costiveness  and  diarrhoea, wind 
in  the  stomach  and  bowels,  and  the  patient  is  often 
annoyed  with  worms  and  frequently   with  piles 

The  coarse  particles  of  the  bile  thus  mixed  with  the 
blood  more  or  less  obstruct  the  pores  of  the  skin  and 
small  blood  vessels,  and  hence  give  rise  to  various 
diseases  of  the  skin,  such  as  erysipelas,  eczema,  itch- 
ing, small  watery  vesicles,  blotches,  tumors,  pimp- 
les, scurviness,  boils,  sore  eyes,  sores  and  ulcers  of 
various  kinds.  The  skin  is  move  or  less  yellow,  and 
when  the  disease  is  of  long  standing,  often  very 
dark,  and  has  a  disagreeable,  dirty,  greasy  appear- 
ance, and  sometimes  thei-e  is  a  perfect  jaundice.  The 
whites  of  the  eyes  havt  a  green  or  yellow  tinge. 
]Vtore  or  less  bil<!  is  strained  off  from  the  blood  ;o 


212  LIVER  COMPLAINT. 

its  passage  through  the  kidneys,  and  is  mixed  with 
the  urine,  which,  by  its  acrimony,  produces  pains  in 
the  back,  and  scalds  and  irritates  the  urinary  pas- 
sages. Some  days  the  discharge  of  urine  is  profuse, 
and  natural  in  its  appearance;  at  other  times  it  is 
scanty  and  the  desire  to  evacuate  is  frequent  and  ur- 
gent, and  occasionally  there  is  a  total  suppression  of 
it.  Sometimes  the  color  is  nearlv  white,  and  milky, 
but  usually  it  is  high  colored,  red  or  yellow,  with  a 
rank  offensive  odor;  and  sometimes  it  is  bloody. 

The  tongue  is  usually  more  or  less  coated  with  a 
white  or  brown  scurf.  There  is  irritation  and  fre- 
quent chronic  inflammation  of  the  inner  surface  of 
the  stomach  and  bowels,  with  tenderness  on  pressure 
and  soreness  along  the  lower  edge  of  the  ribs.  Some- 
times there  is  a  loathing  for  food,  and  at  other  times 
there  is  a  voracious  appetite.  There  is  often  a  feel- 
ing of  chilliness,  and  coldness  of  the  feet  and  knees, 
and  along  the  inside  of  the  thighs,  sour  or  bitter 
eructations,  and  sometimes  a  spitting  or  throwing 
up  of  the  food  after  eating. 

There  is  a  feeling  of  oppression  across  the  stomach 
and  chest,  as  if  pressed  down  by  a  weight;  trouble- 
some and  often  frightful  dreams,  low  spirits,  languor, 
want  of  energy,  melancholy,  restlessness,  and  dis- 
contentedness — gloominess  of  mind,  timorousness, 
and  a  great  dread  of  trouble,  and  a  disposition  to 
magnify  every  evil — sometimes  great  watchfulnes 
and  an  inability  to  sleep — at  others,  great  drowsiness 
and  weariness,  and  a  disinclination  to  motion.  At 
times  the  face  is  flushed,  and  more  or  less  fever,  es- 


LIVER  COMPLAINT.  213 
pecially  at  night  or  in  the  afternoon.  Sometimes, 
violent  colics  and  wandering  pains  in  various  parts  of 
the  body.  Frequently  there  is  a  short,  hacking 
cough,  with  a  huskiness  of  the  throat;  sometimes  a 
very  severe, dry  and  hard  cough,  which  is  often  mis- 
taken for  consumption.  This  cough  often  commen- 
ces in  the  latter  part  of  the  night  or  early  in  the  morj 
ning,  and  lasts  for  hours,  frequently  producing  nau- 
sea and  vomiting.  If  there  be  any  expectoration,  it 
is  a  tough,  ropy,  tenacious  phlegm,  which  adhere? 
to  everything  it  touches.  There  are  also,  frequent- 
ly, chronic  pleuritic  pains  in  various  parts  of  the 
chest,  which  shift  about  from  one  part  of  the  breast 
or  side  to  the  other.  Sometimes  abscesses  form  in 
the  liver,  and  pressing  upwards  on  the  lungs  pro- 
duce constriction  and  cough;  and  breaking, discharge 
their  contents  into  the  lungs,  from  whence  it  must 
then  be  ejected  by  expectoration,  or  the  patient  is 
destroyed .  Some  persons  are  troubled  with  spasmo- 
dic twitches  in  various  parts  of  the  body,  sometimes 
faintness  and  sighing,  difficulty  of  breathing,  read- 
ing or  talking  producing  weariness.  There  is  a  beat- 
ing sensation  near  the  pit  of  the  stomach,  with  pal- 
pitation  and  fluttering  of  the  heart,  profusion  of  dan- 
druff and  loss  of  the  hair;  indeed,  to  sum  up  in  a  few 
words — a  yellow,  dirty,  greasy  appearance  of  the 
skin,  a  yellow  or  green  tinge  of  the  eyes,  an  aching 
pain  across  the  kidneys  and  hips,  with  irritation  or 
heat  in  discharging  the  urine — a  sensation  of  full- 
ness and  distention  across  the  abdomen,  with  tender- 
ness on  pressure — lowness  of  spirits,  frightful 


214  fHYMOSlS. 

dreams,  acidity  of  the  stomach,  with  other  dyspep- 
tic symptoms,  bilious  fever,  bilious  colics  and  bilious 
diarrhoea  and  dysenteries,  obstinate  costiveness,  in- 
termittent and  remittent  fevers,  jaundice,  fever  and 
ague,  chill  and  fever,  etc.,  all  originating  from  the 
same  cause — a  deranged  state  of  the  liver. 

PHYMOSIS. 

The  term  phymosis  is  applied  to  that  condition  of 
the  penis  in  which  it  is  impossible  to  retract  the  pre- 
puce behind  the  glans. 

In  the  majority  of  cases  phymosis  is  a  congenital 
malformation  due  to  unnatural  narrowness  of  the  pre- 
putial orifice,  and  may  be  associated  with  adhesion, 
varying  in  position  and  extent  between  the  glans  and 
its  covering.  Congenital  phymosis  is  a  source  of  not 
only  great  inconvenience  to  the  subject  of  it,  but  of 
increased  exposure  to  venereal  diseases  in  promiscu- 
ous intercourse,  and  is  sometimes  the  cause  of  seri- 
ous disturbance  in  the  genito-urinary  and  nervous 
systems.  Among  the  symptoms  which  have  been  as- 
cribed to  congenital  phymosis  are  balanitis,  constant 
itching  and  even  pain  at  the  head  of  the  penis,  in- 
ordinate excitability  of  the  genital  organs,  frequent 
erections,  erotic  dreams,  seminal  emissions,  imper- 
fect development  of  the  penis  and  testicles,  incom- 
plete and  painful  ejaculations  of  the  sperm,  vesical 
tenesmus,  incontinence  of  urine,  gastralgia,  neural- 
gia and  general  lassitude  and  prostration.  Proba- 
bly no  one  will  be  disposed  to  call  in  question  the 
occasional  connection  between  the  milder  of  the 
above  affections  and  phymosis.    With  regard  to  the 


TO  PATIENTS  AT  A  DISTANCE.  215 

others,  some  doubts  might  be  legitimately  enter- 
tained, were  it  not  for  the  circumstantial  report  of 
the  symptoms,  and  the  fact  that  simple  excision  of 
the  elongated  prepuce  has  in  most  cases  brought 
complete  and  permanent  relief. 

TO  PATIENTS  AT  A  DISTANCE. 

Our  present  mail  facilities  are  so  perfect  and  rapid 
that  an  interchange  of  thought  and  every  want  can 
be  communicated,  and  every  trouble  told.  The  advan- 
tage  thus  accruing  to  individuals  remote  from  each 
other  by  distance  can  scarcely  be  estimated.  Few  ap- 
preciate this  more  than  the  individual  that  is  in  need 
of  the  advice  and  services  of  a  scientific  physician; 
through  the  facilities  of  the  mail,  a  correspondence 
may  be  established  between  physician  and  patient, 
and  delicate  questions  discussed,  although  thousands 
of  miles  apart;  it  is  no  barrier  to  the  patient  fully 
solving  some  questions  concerning  their  organization, 
of  which  perhaps  he  or  she  has  long  been  in  doubt; 
anxious  perhaps  to  make  known  some  infirmity,  or 
solicitous  to  ascertain  how  to  remove  one,  and  one  it 
may  be  that  no  power  could  induce  them  to  speak  of 
verbally  to  the  family  physician.  Thousands  there 
are  who  have  infirmities,  ailments  or  impediments  to 
their  forming  matrimonial  alliances,  trifling  perhaps 
in  themselves  and  easily  removed  by  a  skilled  and  ex- 
perienced physician  ;yet  all  the  world  could  not  induce 
these  persons  to  speak  of  them  to  their  nearest  and 
dearest  friend,  much  less  their  resident  physician,  al- 
though he  may  be  a  friend.  Very  many  there  are  who 
would  rather  go  down  into  the  grave  than  to  be  rec- 


216  TO  PATIENTS  AT  A  DISTANCE. 

ognized  by  their  friends,  even  their  professional 
friends,  as  the  afflicted  in  the  manner  particularly  dis- 
cussed and  treated  upon  in  this  work;  but  in  the  form 
of  a  letter  every  minute  suffering  may  be  portrayed, 
every  fact  may  be  made  known,  and  the  history  of  the 
case  fully  detailed;  and  yet  the  writer,  if  he  chooses, 
remains  incognito.  In  my  experience,  which  extends 
over  many  years,  I  have  found  that  patients,  many  of 
them,  could  sit  down  in  their  closets  and  delineate 
their  case  minutely  in  every  particular,  while  in  the 
presence  of  a  physician  they  were  diffident,  agitated, 
and  could  make  little  or  no  statement.  Then  the 
advantage  financially  to  those  at  a  distance,  by  the 
mail  facilities,  is  great.  I  have  had  patients  visit  me 
for  some  ailment,  where  the  distance  was  so  great  that 
the  railroad  fare  and  expenses  while  in  the  city 
amounted  to  much  more  than  the  treatment,  and  had 
they  given  me  a  written  statement,!  could  have  done 
just  as  well  for  them  at  their  homes  and  not  incurred 
the  large  traveling  expense.  True,  a  personal  inter- 
view is  always  preferred  where  patients  can  state  the 
facts  without  hesitation  or  flurry,  and  can  afford  the 
expense  of  coming  to  the  city,  and  in  some  few  cas- 
es it  is  absolutely  necessary.  I  hold  myself  in  readi- 
ness to  give  counsel  in  either  way  to  such  as  desire 
it,  and  all  such  consultations, personally  or  by  mail, 
will  be  held  most  religiously  sacred.  A  postage 
stamp  must  accompany  all  communications,  or  they 
will  not  be  replied  to.  On  receiving  a  candid  state- 
ment, I  shall  make  my  demands  in  accordance  with 
the  patients  limited  means.    My  medicines  are  aU 


VOLUPTUOUS  BOSOM.  2i 

compounded  in  my  own  Laboratory  and  under  my 
supervision;  the  best  of  drugs  are  procured,  regard- 
less of  expense;  and  in  sending  medicines  by  mail  j 
or  express,  care  is  taken  that  the  contents  of  the 
package  shall  not  be  known. 

NOTICE. 

Patients  applying  to  Dr.  Bate's  Institute  see  the 
Principal  in  person,  who  is  constantly  there  during 
office  hours,  and  personally  responsible  to  all  who 
may  apply  either  by  mail  or  in  person.  The  asso- 
ciate physicians  are  engaged  most  of  their  time  in 
putting  up  medicines,  and  answering  the  numerous 
correspondents,  after  all  such  correspondence  has 
been  read  carefully  by  Dr.  Bate  himself,  and  di- 
rections given  in  regard  to  answers.  Patients  de- 
siring private  apartments,  board,  attendance,  etc., 
have  it  provided  for  them. 

VOLUPTUOUS  BOSOM. 

My  success  in  stimulating  nature  in  its  action  upon 
the  organs  of  the  chest  and  mammary  glands  has 
far  exceeded  my  most  sanguine  expectations. 

I  have  seen  the  soft,  flabby,  shrunken,  and  non- 
developed  breast,  in  a  short  time,  under  my  treat- 
ment, develop  and  increase  in  size  and  fullness,  and 
attain  the  most  bewitching  symmetry  of  a  beautiful 
bosom,  which  was  truly  marvelous.  To  those  who 
have  never  been  properly  developed,  or  those  who 
have  lost  the  beauty  of  the  breast  from  nursing,  pad- 
ding or  any  other  cause,  I  recommend  my  mode  of 
treatment,  and  in  a  short  time  no  art,  or  padding 
will  be  required  to  perfect  the  beauty  of  your  form 
but  matchless  beauty  will  adorn  your  chest, give  grace 


218  ATTRACTIVE  COMPLEXION. 

and  dignity  to  your  person,  with  the  gratification  of 
possessing  a  healthy,  well-formed  bosom  and  strong 
lungs.  My  treatment  is  based  on  the  laws  of  phy- 
siology and  science. 

Ladies  need  not  hesitate  to  address  me  on  this 
subject,  as  in  this  and  in  all  other  correspondence 
the  strictest  confidence  will  be  maintained.  Price  of 
a  course  of  treatment,  including  remedies,  fifteen 
dollars.  Remedies  carefully  packed,  concealed  from 
observation,  forwarded  anywhere  by  express  on  re- 
ceipt of  $15,  or  if  you  prefer  you  can  send  $7.50.  I 
will  collect  balance  on  the  package.  Money  can  be 
sent  by  postoffice  order,  registered  letter,  draft  or 
express  at  my  risk. 

ATTRACTIVE  COMPLEXION. 

It  is  a  duty  of  the  highest  importance  that  every 
lady  owes  to  herself,  to  preserve  her  complexion  in  all 
its  attractiveness  and  beauty.  All  agree  in  the  one 
impression  made  by  a  perfect  complexion.  It  capti- 
vates and  ravishes  all  beholders.  The  skin  of  all 
exposed  portions  should  be  clear,  without  spot,  and 
free  from  all  suspicion  of  any  disease.  The  beautiful 
women  of  all  ages  owed  their  beauty  to  their  fair  com- 
plexion and  ravishing  form.  Diseases  which  destroy 
the  complexion  are  of  two  kinds;  first,  those  which 
affect  the  skin  and  below  it,  such  as  tetter,  ring- 
worm, acne,  red  blotches,  pimples,  black  worms,  etc. 

Chronic  forms  of  erysipelas  often  attack  the  face 
and  nose,  causing  the  nose  to  enlarge  and  become 
purple  red.  All  of  these  skin  diseases  on  the  face  are 
curable  to  a  certainty,  and  should  not  be  allowed 


BLANCH  DE  LA  PEAtJ.  21§ 

to  destroy  the  beauty.  Another  class  of  affections  at- 
tack the  scarf  skin  which  lies  upon  and  covers  the 
true  skin;  such  as  freckles,  moth  patches, brown  and 
yellow  discolorations  under  the  eyes  and  upon  other 
parts  of  the  face,  premature  wrinkles  at  the  angles 
of  the  eyes,  extending  to  the  temples.  To  preserve 
the  complexion  in  all  its  attractiveness  and  beauty, 
I  have  never  met  with  anj'thing  to  compare  with  a 
preparation  that  has  been  used  by  European  ladies; 
it  removes  all  freckles,  moth  patches,  pimples,  tan, 
softens  the  skin  and  beautifies  the  complexion.  This 
preparation  has  received  the  approbation  of  the  fash- 
ionable and  beautiful  ladies  of  Paris  for  the  past 
fifty  years.  It  was  prepared  by  Madame  De  Morris- 
coe,  and  called 

BLANCH  DE  LA  PEAU. 

This  preparation  has  acquired  a  reputation  on  its 
merits  and  ability,  and  been  recommended  by  one  to 
another  from  actual  knowledge  of  its  value  as  a  beau- 
tifier,  for  imparting  freshness, smoothness  and  trans- 
parency to  the  skin  it  has  no  equal  in  the  known 
world.  Once  used,  and  it  is  forever  sought  after  by 
persons  desiring  a  beautiful  complexion. 

For  gentlemen  it  is  invaluable  in  stopping  all  su- 
perfious  growths,  and  for  itching  and  tenderness 
after  shaving;  for  redness  of  the  eyes,  chapped  lips, 
exposure  to  the  sun  or  wind,  burning  of  the  scalp, 
looseness  or  falling  of  the  hair.  It  always  gives  the 
utmost  satisfaction  as  a  toilet  for  infants — for  chafing 
or  from  any  cause,  it  cannot  be  excelled.  It  never 


m  IMPOSTERS. 

fails  to  give  entire  satisfaction.  I  am  tne  only  per- 
son in  America  having  the  original  receipt  of  this 
valuable  preparation;  it  is  prepared  by  me  and  sent 
anywhere  by  express  or  mail  with  full  directions. 
Price  $2.00  per  package  or  $18.00  per  dozen. 

IMPORTANT  TO  THE  MARRIED  AND  MARRIAGEABLE- 

Much  infelicity,  dissatisfaction,  complaint,  jeal- 
ousy and  domestic  wrangles  leading  to  divorces  and 
separations  frequently  arise  from  the  premature  dis- 
charge of  semen  on  the  part  of  the  male  during  cop- 
ulation, before  the  female  can  reciprocate.  She  is 
disappointed  and  disgusted;  and  in  suppressed  anger 
feels  she  is  the  victim  of  previous  sensuality.  This 
infirmity  can  positively  be  cured  by  Dr.  Bate,  and 
persons  thus  affected  should  apply  to  him  in  person 
or  by  mail  at  once. 

IMPOSTERS. 

I  feel  it  my  duty  to  caution  patients  and  particu- 
larly strangers  against  imposters  who  infest  all  large 
cities.  Many  of  these  fellows  are  men  of  the  lowest 
type,  publishing  bogus  certificates  of  cure  by  the 
thousand.  No  scientific  or  honorable  physician  will 
attempt  to  bolster  up  his  business  by  flaunting  the 
names  or  cases  of  persons  he  has  had  under  his  pro- 
fessional care,  and  Dr.  Bate  respectfully  cautions  the 
afflicted  against  such  pretended  physicians.  Patients 
are  informed  that  under  no  circumstances  will  Dr. 
Bate  reveal  the  names  of  patients  coming  to  him  for 
medical  treatment  or  ad\  ice,  or  allude  to  their  case 
in  any  way,  verbally  or  in  print,  but  the  most  in- 


LOST  PASSIONS  REGAINED. 


221 


ciolable  secrecy  will  be  maintained,  and  all  corres- 
pondence returned  or  destroyed  at  the  end  of  the 
treatment,  and  the  most  timid  may  consult  him  with- 
out hesitation  and  rely  on  inviolate  secrecy. 

LOST  PASSIONS  REGAINED. 

It  is  a  fact  most  apparent,  that  hundreds,  yes 
chousands  of  females,  from  various  causes,  a  few  3-ears 
after  marriage,  lose  that  passion  and  warm  desire  that 
they  possessed  when  first  married.  The  passions  be- 
come dormant,  and  wnile  there  is  no  particular  aver- 
sion to  intercourse,  there  is  a  coldness,  an  indifference, 
little  or  no  desire  for  weeks.  The  husband  soon  feels 
that  loss  and  secretly  asks  himself  why  his  wife  is  so 
cold  and  growing  so  dormant,  and  thus  a  coldness 
and  indifference  is  apparent  on  the  part  of  both,  and 
the  wife  begins  to  wonder  why  her  husband  does  not 
pay  her  that  nice  attention  he  formerly  did.  The 
cause  is  obvious.  Restore  those  passions  that  are 
natural,  and  should  not  begin  to  fail  but  remain 
vigorous  and  strong  up  to  forty-eight  and  fifty. 

My  Female  Invigorator  is  an  infallible  remedy  in 
such  cases.  I  have  used  it  in  my  practice  for  the 
last  fifteen  years.  No  female  should  be  without  it, 
as  it  regulates,  invigorates  and  keeps  the  generative 
organs  in  a  healthy  condition.  Put  up  in  pint  bot- 
tles, at  $5.00  each. 

SPECIAL  CARD. 

Any  person  needing  immediate  treatment,  and  not 
knowing  my  charges,  can  send  me  $10.00  fully  de- 
scribing their  symptoms,  and  I  will  immediately 


222     A  FAMILIAR  TALK  WITH  MY  PATRONS. 

forward  a  package  of  medicine  with  full  instructions 
for  a  complete  cure  ot  the  difficulty;  if  the  nature 
of  the  disease  requires  additional  fee,  it  can  be  sent 
on  receipt  of  the  package. 

A  FAMILIAR  TAIyK  WITH  MY  PATRONS. 

My  practice  is  founded  on  the  principles  of  Truth, 
Science  and  Humanity.  In  all  cases  conscientious 
advice  will  be  given.  If,  on  examination  or  descrip- 
tion, I  find  a  patient  incurable,  I  frankly  state  that 
the  disease  is  beyond  my  skill. 

My  practice  being  the  most  extensive  in  the  West, 
if  not  in  America,  from  great  experience  and  study, 
I  have  acquired  such  a  rare  facility  in  diagnosing  antf 
prognosing  disease  that  I  am  able  to  tell,  almost  at 
a  glance,  the  curability  or  incurability  of  any  case. 

Being  a  regularly  educated  physician,  from  the 
first  Medical  Colleges,  I  employ  the  best  means  to 
obtain  the  best  results,  although,  from  large  experi- 
ence, I  have  been  forced  to  throw  aside  much  of 
what  I  learned  in  my  medical  course,  and  adopt  a 
more  rational  and  comprehensive  materia  medica. 

I  will  not  promise  to  perform  impossibilities;  but 
all  shall  be  truthfully  advised,  faithfully  and  honest- 
ly  served. 

I  claim  patronage  on  the  ground  that  invalids  can 
obtain  from  me  the  finest  medical  treatment  in  this 
country,  the  absence  of  charlatanism,  and  reference 
to  our  first  citizens. 

I  do  not  claim  that  my  views  of  disease  and  treat- 
ment, or  that  my  remedies  are  perfect  or  infallible.  I 


FACTS  FOR  EVERYBODY.  <223 

believe  in  the  divine  progress  of  the  human  race  and 
the  nascent  power  of  human  understanding. 

I  appeal  to  the  common  sense,  the  justice  and  the 
judgment  of  the  people.  Those  who  know  me  and 
my  cures  are  enthusiastic  in  my  praise. 

The  diseases  now  prevalent  in  America  threaten, 
if  continued,  to  sweep  the  inhabitants  into  prema- 
ture graves.  I  rarely  find  a  healthy  person  now;  all 
have  something  the  matter  with  them — some  seciet 
disease  which  is  silently  sapping  the  foundation  of 
life. 

FACTS  FOR  EVERYBODY. 

Infinite  wisdom  has  procured  innumerable  reme- 
dies for  the  cure  of  all  diseases.  By  divine  direction 
water  cured  Naaman,  the  Syrian;  a  fig  poultice  cur- 
ed Hezekiah,  the  king;  the  Balm  of  Gilead  restored 
David;  Oil  and  Wine  were  used  by  the  good  Samar- 
itan; Christ  cured  the  blind  man  by  the  application 
of  clay  to  his  eyes. 

Animals  when  sick  eat  certain  plants  and  are  cur- 
ed. A  dog  will  eat  grass  when  sick,  and  poisonour; 
reptiles  when  bitten  are  cured  by  plants  of  the  woods. 

The  Vegetable  Kingdom  is  the  connecting  link 
between  the  Animal  and  Mineral  Kingdom.  Chem- 
istry has  analyzed  most  Animal,  Mineral  and  Veg- 
etable substances,  and  demonstrated  that  their  ele- 
mentary constituents  are  the  same. 

Chemical  science  has  shown  that  vegetables  con- 
tain gold,  silver,  iron,  manganese,  potassium,  sodi/ 
urn,  etc. — all  purely  metallic  substances. 


2'24  FACTS  FOR  EVERYBODY. 

Hence,  it  is  manifest  ignorance  for  a  certain  class 
of  persons  to  style  themselves  '  'Vegetable  Doctors.'" 
and  assert  that  they  do  not  use  minerals. 

The  bones  contain  five,  the  saliva  three,  the  gas- 
tric juice  four  and  the  blood  five  distinct  mineral 
substances;  and,  as  these  are  indispensible  to  the 
living  body,  they  must  be  constantly  supplied — a  de- 
ficiency of  either  of  them  producing  various  diseases. 

When  I  see  the  pale,  weakly  female, her  eyes  dull, 
her  complexion  tumid  or  waxy,  her  menstruation  ir- 
regular, and  a  want  of  energy  and  life  characteriz- 
ing all  her  movements,  it  is  well  known  a  certain 
element  of  the  Mineral  Kingdom  is  wanting. 

When  I  see  a  man  averse  to  female  society,  his 
virile  powers  enfeebled  or  erratic,  his  temper  irrita- 
ble and  capricious,  -and  he  finds  fault  with  life  gen- 
erally, it  is  well  known  that  here  also  a  certain  ele- 
ment of  the  Mineral  Kingdom  is  wanting. 

And  how  few  know  the  true  cause  of  their  feelings! 

There  never  was  a  truer  saying  than  Bishop 
Whateley's,  ''That  a  sound  body  makes  a  healthy 
mind." 

"In  the  hour  of  health  how  few  think  of  disease." 

PROCREATION. 

An  author  says  that  to  procreate  is  in  effect  to  die 
to  one's  self  and  to  leave  one's  life  to  posterity. 

Nonsense!  Continent  men  on  the  average  die 
sooner  than  those  who  are  married. 

Moderate  intercourse  deprives  the  system  of  noth- 
ing buf.  fyhat  it  is  healthful  to  lose. 


ADVANTAGES  OF  MARRIAGE.  225 


ADVANTAGES  OF  MARRIAGE. 

We  fully  agree  with  a  certain  physiologist,  that 
* 'Matrimony,  as  established  in  Christian  countries, 
greatly  contributes  to  the  health  and  happiness  of 
the  human  species, ' '  but  we  are  not  so  sure  that  he  is 
right  when  he  says  that  1  'men  before  they  are  mar- 
ried are  always  discontented." 

Our  conviction  is  that  a  batchelor,  even  beyond 
the  hope  of  matrimony,  is  not  so  discontented  a  being 
as  a  man  who  is  married,  but  not  to  his  mind. 

And  the  same  rule  will  apply, even  more  forcibly, 
to  the  other  sex;  for  men  have  a  partial  corrective, 
which,  if  not  sanctioned,  is  at  least  winked  at  by  so- 
ciety; whereas  women  have  none  but  the  one  which 
involves  their  destruction. 

Consequently,  great  care  should  be  taken  in  the 
choice  of  a  partner  for  life,  not  as  regards  beauty 
habits,  manners,  etc.,  but  physical  construction  and 
desires. 

t  It  is  a  great  error  to  society,  that  which  compels 
people  to  marry,  while  so  much  in  the  dark  on  cer- 
tain subjects  in  which  they  are  so  vitally  concerned. 

For  instance,  it  is  not  to  be  expected  that  much 
happiness  can  attend  the  union  of  a  lymphatic  man 
and  a  sanguine  woman,  or  vice  versa;  and  equally, 
or  even  more  disagreeable  is  the  result,  when  a 
wedded  couple  discover  that  they  are  unsuited  to 
each  other;  and  hence  they  cannot  duly  realize  the 
most  important  of  the  enjoyments  of  wedlock. 


22G  ADVANTAGES  OF  MARRIAGE. 

It  might  be  well  for  millions,  if  the  manners  of  the 
age  permitted  inquiry  on  those  subjects  ;and  it  might 
be  accomplished  through  relations  or  friends,  with- 
out much  sacrifice  of  modesty. 

At  all  events,  the  mode  of  taking  each  other,  for 
better  or  worse  blind-folded,  is  in  nine  cases  out  of 
ten  the  cause  of  unhappy  marriages,  divorces,  elope- 
ments, desertions,  and  so  forth;  for  if  a  couple  are 
mentally  and  physically  agreed,  contentment  is  the 
natural  result.  Otherwise,  matrimony  is  not  to  them 
the  thing  they  expected  and  hoped  for,  and  each 
pines  lor  enjoyments  which  they  find  it  impossible 
to  convey  to  the  other. 

However,  marriage  in  any  mode  is  far  better  than 
none  at  all;  for,  to  say  nothing  of  its  immorality, 
promiscuous  intercourse  enervates  the  system,  op- 
presses the  brain,  and  blunts  the  appetite  of  desire. 

Variety,  in  fact,  counteracts  healthy  and  vigorous 
excitements,  for  its  stimulations  are  but  as  the  pass- 
ing moments  of  unnatural  strength  during  the  crisis 
of  fever. 

Hence,  men  who  have  been  renowned  for  then 
amorous  propensities,  according  to  their  own  admis- 
sion, derive  but  little  enjoyment,  yet  great  prostra- 
tion from  sexual  intercourse;  and  their  children, 
when  they  had  any  they  could  vouch  for,  have  been 
been  in  most  cases  weak,  puny  and  imbecile. 

Thus  the  laws  of  Hymen  do  not  restrict, but  actu- 
ally promote  sexual  pleasures,  and  are  the  only  cer- 
tain road  to  them;  for  such  is  the  state  of  society,  that 


ADVANTAGES  OF  MARRIAGE.  227 

without  legal  vows,  fidelity  can  hardly  be  expected. 
Cupid  may  visit  other  places,  but  with  all  its  draw- 
backs— and  they  are  many  there  is  no  denying — he 
rarely  finds  himself  truly  at  home  but  in  the  mar- 
riage couch. 

M.  de  Hansierck  argues  with  eloquence  in  favor 
of  polygamy. 

He  insists  that  it  is  agreeable  to  the  original  in- 
tention, and  refers  to  certain  customs  amongst  an- 
cient Jews,  in  evidence. 

He  further  insists  that  no  man  can  be  satisfied 
with  one  wife,  but  that  four,  differing  indisposition, 
and  style  of  beauty,  would  bound  his  desires. 

And  several  distinguished  German  philosophers 
are  of  the  same  opinion. 

But  we  hold  them  to  be  in  error,  for  jealousy 
must  be  the  sure  result  of  polygamy,  and  indeed  it 
seems  one  of  the  principal  intentions  of  this  vigilant 
sensation  to  make  one  man  and  one  woman  faith- 
ful to  each  other. 

However,  in  some  nations — China  for  instance— < 
a  plurality  of  wives  is  said  to  produce  no  unpleas- 
ant domestic  results,  and  the  Chinese  novelists, 
when  they  wish  to  have  their  heroes  in  a  state  oi 
extreme  conjugal  felicity,  usually  give  them  two 
wives,  of  opposite  temperament  and  style  of  beauty, 
who  are  as  tenderly  attached  to  each  other,  as  they 
are  to  their  common  husband. 

But  in  all  such  cases  the  women  must  rather  be 
regarded  in  the  light  of  slaves  than  of  bosom  partners 


<328  ADVANTAGES  OF  MARRIAGE. 

and  if  they  had  their  own  will  in  the  matter,  we  doubt 
not  they  would  alter  the  system,  for  every  female  is 
a  natural  despot  in  the  affair  of  love,  and  will  of  her 
own  consent  permit  no  rival  near  the  throne. 

At  all  events,  we  are  satisfied  that  the  doctrine  of 
plurality  would  not  answer  in  civilized  countries, 
where  the  sexes  are  more  on  a  par  in  general  privi- 
leges; for  here,  if  the  man  insisted  in  two  wives,  there 
is  nothing  more  certain  than  that  the  two  women 
would  compromise  the  matter,  by  providing  them- 
selves, legally  or  otherwise,  with  two  husbands. 

Furthermore,  "in  places  where  a  plurality  of 
wives  is  allowed,"  says  an  eminent  writer,  "the 
carnal  appetite  grows  surfeited,  and  occasionally  so 
depraved,  that  other  objects  become  yet  dearer  to  it 
than  the  female  sex." 

Thus,  the  monarchs  of  the  Celestial  Empire  have 
been  known  to  indulge  in  the  most  unnatural  ex- 
cesses. 

"Hence,"  continues  the  same  author,  "if we 
would  escape  evil,  marriage  is  not  only  a  benefit, 
but  a  necessity.', 

Let  us  add  that  while  marriage,  as  legal  in  most 
parts  of  Europe,  promotes  sexual  pleasure,  it  secures 
constant  moderation,  which  is  necessary  for  the  health 
of  the  body — yet  more  so  for  that  of  the  mind. 

When  persons  alike  eschew  marriage  and  libertin- 
ism, unnatural  indulgence-to  which  we  have  devoted 
a  chapter  elsewhere  in  this  book — is  in  nineteen  cases 
out  of  twenty  the  consequence,  and  where  it  is  avoid- 
ed, and  absolute  continence  persisted  in?  the  party 


ADVANTAGES  OF  MARRIAGE.  m 

•will  have  to  purchase  the  peculiarity  by  a  life  of 
anxiety,  sorrow  and  suffering. 

Among  the  effects  of  the  latter  are  ferocity,  deter- 
mination of  the  blood  to  the  head,  indigestion, inor- 
dinate desires, heart  throbbings, inability  to  divest  the 
mind  of  the  prevailing  passion,  partial  insanity 
and  early  death. 

Besides,  to  be  continent  is  not  to  be  chaste,  as  it  is 
sure  to  engender  a  constant  change  of  voluptuous 
images  and  untameable  desires,  which  it  would  be 
difficult  to  reconcile  with  strict  purity. 

By  long  and  severe  fasts,  and  shunning  the  soci- 
ety of  the  female  sex,  we  have  no  doubt  that  men 
may  greatly  suppress  their  animal  desires,  but  they 
by  no  means  obliterate  them,  and  clergymen  of  the 
most  austere  orders  have  admitted  this,  whenever 
they  chose  to  speak  freely  on  the  subject. 

An  ecclesiastic  in  Bordeaux,  finding  it  impossible 
to  starve  out  his  desires,  shot  himself  through  the 
heart,  where  lay  the  seat  of  his  disease. 

Gregory  admitted  the  difficulties,  in  this  respect, 
that  celibacy  imposed  on  its  votaries, but  argued  that 
were  it  otherwise,  continence*  would  be  no  virtue  and 
abstinence  from  sexual  intercourse  no  sacrifice. 

Monsieur  M.  wrote  more  particularly  on  the  sub- 
ject. He  said  that  at  the  age  of  thirty-two,  being 
bound  by  a  vow  of  celibacy,  he  began  to  feel  the  ac- 
tion of  the  reproductive  organs  very  intensely,  and 
that  his  health  was  thereby  injured. 

At  this  period  he  fixed  his  eyes    on  two  women 


230  ADVANTAGES  OF  MARRIAGE). 

who  made  such  an  impression  on  him  that  they  ap- 
peared to  be  illuminated,  and  to  glitter  with  an 
electric  fire,  so  that  he  retired,  thinking  that  it  was 
an  illusion  of  the  devil. 

He  had  then  violent  contraction  and  tension 
of  the  limbs,  which  were  succeeded  by  delirium;  and 
afterward  his  imagination  was  assailed  by  obscene 
images,  suggested  by  the  desires  of  nature. 

In  a  word,  continence  to  his  body  was  obscenity 
to  his  mind,  and  made  him  most  miserable. 

The  confessions  of  Anselmo,  an  austere  and  vir- 
tuous man,  are  further  eminent  illustrations  to  the 
same  effect.    Also  the  memoirs  of  Catineau. 

And  likewise  the  admissions  of  an  exalted  father, 
who  exclaims,  "Oh,  how  often  have  I,  when  settled 
in  the  desert — in  that  vast  solitude  which,  burned  up 
by  the  solar  heat,  affords  to  monks  a  horrid  habita- 
tion— how  often  have  I  imagined  myself  to  be  for  a 
moment  in  the  midst  of  Roman  pleasures.  But  I  sat 
alone,  because  my  heart  was  full  of  woe  and  bitter- 
ness. My  members,  deformed  as  they  were,  abhorred 
the  sack  which  invested  them;  my  shriveled  flesh  felt 
the  thirst  of  Ethiopic  fire.  Daily  tears,  daily  groans, 
were  mine;  and  if  dear  sleep  oppressed  me,  I  slid  my 
scarcely  adhering  bones  down  on  the  naked  ground  ; 
my  mind  was  full  of  dreams  at  variance  with  my  vow. 
I,  therefore,  who  for  fear  of  hell  had  condemned  my- 
self to  such  imprisonment — the  companion  only  of 
scorpions  and  wild  beasts — did  often,  in  imagination, 
find  myself  amid  the  choirs  of  maidens.    Pallid  was 


ADVANTAGES  OF  MARRIAGE.  231 

[  with  fastings,  and  in  a  frigid  body,  yet  my  mind 
burned  with  desires — the  flesh  being  dead  before  the 
man,  the  fires  of  lust  alone  boiled  up;  and  thus  must 
it  be  with  all  who,  like  me,  endeavor  to  sacrifice  the 
flesh  to  the  spirit." 

Nor  is  the  case  better  with  the  other  sex. 

Indeed  if  anything,  the  images  of  the  mind  of  the 
woman  are  more  intense,  as  she  has  fewer  objects 
to  distract  her  attention,  and  hence  she  is  the  great- 
er sufferer  by  absolute  continence. 

Languor,  melancholy,  uneasiness  and  laziness,  are 
earliest  symptoms  of  suppressed  desire  in  females; 
then  chlorosis;  then  probably  death,  unless  her  pas- 
sion finds  vent  in  marriage — or  in  a  solitary  practice, 
the  evils  of  which  are  fully  considered  further  on. 

Having  thus,  in  the  difficulties  of  continence,  il- 
lustrated the  necessity  of  marriage,  I  will  now  pro- 
ceed to  give  some  instructions  as  to  the  best  mode 
of  choosing  an  appropriate  partner.  And  these  in- 
structions may  easily  be  taken  advantage  of,  unless 
where  matches  are  made  in  an  indecent  hurry. 

We  may  be  told  that  love  is  blind,  and  will  not  be 
advised  or  taught  on  such  a  subject. 

We  insist,  however,  that  he  would  be  advised,  if  he 
knew  beforehand  that  the  parties  inspired  by  him 
were  physically  and  mentally  disagreed  to  such  an 
extent  that  the  objects  for  which  they  were  chiefly 
brought  together  could  never  be  duly  consummated. 
This  may  be  a  good  place  to  state  that  nymphoma- 
nia uterine  epilepsy,  uterine  cholic,  virgin  convuls- 


5&8  INTKRM  ARRIAGK. 

ions,  hysterics  and  other  morbid  affections  are  cured 
by  marriage,  and  effectually  so  by  no  other  remedy. 

Nor  is  this  all,  for  marriage  purifies  the  complex- 
ion, removes  blotches  from  the  skin,  invigorates  the 
muscles,  makes  the  carriage  erect  and  free,  and  in 
short  is  the  principle  medium  through  which  nature 
makes  the  human  species  tranquil,  healthy,  and  even 
happy. 

LOVE  MATCHES. 

It  is  an  old  saying  that  love  matches  are  seldom 
or  never  happy. 

By  this  rule  hate  matches  would  promote  the 
pleasure  of  matrimony.    The  idea  is  absurd. 

Unless  there  is  love  before  marriage,  there  is  sel- 
dom any  feeling  warmer  than  moderate  friendship 
afterwards. 

COURTING. 

In  Wales  and  Holland  the  young  people  have  a 
way  of  courting  in  which  they  go  to  bed  together 
and  discuss  the  preliminaries  of  marriage. 

The  Dutch  and  Welsh  contend  for  the  morality  of 
this  fashion,  and  maintain  that  it  never  results  in 
anything  wrong. 

INTERMARRIAGE. 

When  two  persons  of  parallel  disposition  or  ap- 
pearance are  united,  it  is  common  to  observe  that 
they  are  a  well  matched  couple. 

In  fact,  however,  they  are  not,  and  the  very  re- 
semblance which  seems  to  claim  admiration  is  a  strong 
ground  for  saying  they  are  unsuitable  companions. 


INTERMARRIAGE.  233 

The  profound  physiologist  will  readily  admit  the 
justness  of  this  assumption,  and  that  marriages  are 
most  happy,  and  most  productive  of  healthy  and 
handsome  offspring  when  the  husband  and  wife  dif- 
fer not  only  in  mental  conformation,  but  in  bodily 
construction. 

A  melancholy  man  should  mate  himself  with  a 
sprightly  woman,  and  vice  versa;  for  otherwise  they 
will  soon  grow  weary  of  the  monotony  of  each 
ether's  company. 

By  the  same  rule  should  the  choleric  and  the  pa- 
tient be  united,  and  the  ambitious  and  the  humble; 
for  the  opposites  of  their  natures  not  only  produce 
pleasurable  excitements,  but  each  keeps  the  other 
in  a  wholesome  check . 

Had  Macbeth  been  married  to  a  person  of  a  dis- 
position less  aspiring  than  his  own  he  would  never 
have  murdered  King  Duncan. 

In  the  size  and  form  of  the  parties  the  same  prin- 
ciples hold  good. 

Tall  women  are  not  the  ideals  of  beauty  to  tall 
men,  and  if  they  marry  such,  they  soon  begin  to 
imagine  greater  perfection  in  other  forms  than  in 
those  of  their  own  wives. 

And  this  is  well  ordered  by  nature  to  prevent  the 
disagreeable  results  which  are  almost  certain  to  grow 
out  of  unions  where  the  oarents  have  a  strong  re- 
semblance. 

For  instance,  tall  parents  will  probably  have 
children  taller  than  either,  and  mental  imbecility  is 
the  usual  attendant  of  extreme  size 


234  INTERMARRIAGE. 

The  union  of  persons  prone  to  corpulency,  of 
dwarfs,  etc.,  would  have  parallel  results;  and  so 
likewise  that  of  weakly  or  attentuated  couples. 

To  use  a  lucid  but  homely  phrase,  the  '  'breed 
should  be  crossed' '  to  make  it  good. 

Thus,  the  tall  should  marry  the  short — the  cor- 
pulent the  lean — the  choleric  the  gentle — and  so  on; 
and  the  tendency  to  extremes  in  the  parents  will  be 
corrected  in  the  offspring. 

We  do  not  mean  to  produce  any  ridiculous  asso- 
ciations in  the  reader's  mind  by  advancing  that 
Brobdirgnags  should  marry  Lilliputians — man- 
mountains  united  to  shadows,  but  that  the  choice  oi 
partners  should  be  so  regulated  as  not  to  propitiate 
the  birth  of  semi-monsters,  for  parents  prone  to  cor- 
pulency beget  flabby  and  shapeless  infants. 

Where  the  parents  are  alike  of  cold  and  unexcit- 
able  natures,  their  children  are  likely  to  be  subject 
to  idiocy;  the  issue  of  a  very  ill-tempered  couple 
will  probably  be  a  semi-brute;  and  melancholy  fa- 
thers and  mothers  produce  hyprochondriacs  and  ob- 
jects for  suicide. 

Apart  from  these  serious  considerations,  there  are 
reasons  why  persons  of  the  same  disposition  should 
not  be  united  in  wedlock,  as  explicit  as  the  subject 
deserves. 

An  amiable  wife  to  a  choleric  man  is  like  oil  to 
troubled  waters,  an  ill-tempered  one  will  make  his 
life  a  misery  and  his  home  a  hell. 

The  man  of  studious  habits  should  marry  a  woman 
of  sense  and  spirit,  rather  than  of  erudition,  or  the 


INTERMARRIAGE.  235 

union  will  increase  the  monotony  of  his  existence, 
which  it  would  be  well  for  his  health  and  spirits  to 
correct  by  a  little  conjugal  excitement,  and  the  man 
of  gloomy  temperament  will  find  the  greatest  relief 
from  the  dark  forebodings  of  his  mind  in  the  socie- 
ty of  a  gentle  but  lively  and  smiling  partner. 

Further,  in  wedlock,  "like  love  not  their  like"  so 
well  as  something  of  an  opposite  nature  to  excite 
them. 

Timid  maidens  are  most  affected  to  brave  men; 
sages  to  good  housewives,  who  love  their  domestic 
duties  better  than  books;  and  men  of  blunt  disposi- 
tion can  best  appreciate  the  graces  of  refined  wives. 

In  a  word,  the  affections  of  antipodal  natures  sym- 
pathize most  dearly,  a  partial  illustration  of  which 
may  be  seen  in  the  fact  that  the  greatest  philosoph- 
ers find  their  sweetest  relaxation  in  the  prattle  oi 
childhood,  and  a  yet  apter  one  in  the  equally  incontes- 
tible  fact  that  the  bully  of  the  school  and  the  gentlest 
of  the  boys  usually  select  each  other  for  companions. 

However,  in  some  particulars  the  dispositions  and 
constructions  of  married  people  must  assimilate,  or 
they  will  have  but  few  enjoyments  in  common. 

The  man  of  full  habits  and  warm  nature  had  bet- 
ter remain  single  than  unite  his  destinies  with  a  wto- 
man  whose  heart  repulses  the  soft  advancements  of 
love;  and  the  sanguine  female,  in  whose  soul  love  is 
the  dominant  pri  nciple,  should  avoid  marriage  with 
a  very  phlegmatic  person,,  or  her  caresses,  instead 
of  being  returned  in  kind,  will  rather  excite  feelings 
of  disgust. 


1*36  INTERMARRIAGE 

Thus  the  discriminations  to  be  made  in  the  choice 
of  a  partner  are  extremely  nice,  and  can  hardly  be 
explained  in  writing;  but  nature,  assisted  by  the 
|  foregoing  hints,  will  be  a  sufficient  guide. 

Iyest  the  reader  should  say,  you  first  advise  per- 
sons of  opposite  dispositions  to  marry,  and  then  ad- 
vise them  otherwise,  let  me  add  that  the  opposite 
natures  must  excite,  not  shun,  each  other. 

Thus  the  bold  and  timid  will  sort  well  in  wedlock, 
as  their  natures,  though  opposed  in  their  general 
features,  may  unite  in  love,  but  the  very  lymphatic 
and  the  very  sanguine  should  by  no  means  come  to- 
gether, as  they  can  have  no  sympathies  in  common 
on  the  point  which  is  matrimony's  principal  charm 
and  grand  consummation. 

But  nature  generally  assists  art  in  the  choice  ol 
partners. 

We  instinctively  seek  in  the  object  of  our  desires 
the  qualities  which  we  do  not  possess  ourselves. 

To  the  fair  of  both  sexes  the  brunette  complexion 
is  most  engaging,  and  vice  versa;  and  the  same 
principle  governs  throughout — alike  in  physical  and 
moral  conditions. 

Thus  the  slender  affect  the  plump,  the  tall  the 
shorter,  the  impassioned  the  mild,  the  boisterous  the 
calm — and  so  on  to  the  end  of  the  chapter. 

And  this  is  a  most  admirable  arrangement  of  Prov- 
idence, as  it  establishes  an  equilibrium  and  prevents 
people  from  tending  to  extremes;  for  it  is  known  that 
unions  of  dwarfs  are  fruitful  of  dwarfs,  that  giants 
proceed  from  the  embrace  of  giants,  and  that  the  off- 


INTERMARRIAGE.  23? 

spring  of  parents  alike  irritable,  alike  passive,  alike 
bashful,  etc.,  inherit  the  prominent  qualities  of  both 
to  such  a  degree  as  to  seriously  interfere  with  their 
prospects  in  the  world. 
It  has  another  advantage. 

Through  its  means  '  'every  eye  forms  its  own  beau- 
ty." Hence,  what  one  person  rejects  is  the  beau  - 
ideal  of  another's  conception,  and  thus  we  are  all 
provided  for. 

This  difference  of  tastes  has  been  a  stumbling 
block  with  writers  in  all  ages. 

They  could  not  divine  why  an  object  that  was  beau- 
tiful, or  the  reverse  to  one,  was  not  the  same  to  all. 

But  had  they  thoroughly  investigated  the  matter, 
they  would  have  perceived  that  a  manifest  design 
was  at  the  bottom  of  it,  and  that  in  this  variety  ot 
tastes  nature  was  wisely  accomplishing  her  own  ends. 

Many  physiologists  have  argued  that  like  does 
not  produce  like;  but  the  testimony  of  all  exper- 
ience is  against  them. 

See,  for  instance,  the  children  of  red  haired  par- 
ents, of  those  who  have  supernumerary  toes,  etc. , 
and  the  reader  will  require  no  further  evidence  of 
the  invalidity  of  their  doctrine. 

But  the  main  proof  of  my  assumption,  and  the 
grand  argument  in  favor  of  uniting  opposites,  is  to 
be  found  in  the  evil  consequences  attending  mar- 
riages among  blood  relatives. 

Here  is  generally  a  moral  and  physical  resem- 
blance between  the  parties  which  is  almost  sure  to 
entail  suffering  on  their  offspring. 


238  INTERMARRIAGE. 

This  is  strongly  illustrated  in  the  degeneracy  of 
royal  and  noble  families  who  marry  among  each 
other. 

In  Spain,  where  the  proud  old  Hidalgos  carried 
this  absurdity  to  its  greatest  height,  the  race  at  last 
became  so  ugly,  puny  and  imbecile,  that  to  be 
dwarfish  and  hideous  was  to  be  considered  an  evi- 
dence of  nobility;  and  when  strength  and  beauty 
graced  the  offspring  of  rank  the  mother's  fidelity 
was  more  than  suspected. 

The  Hidalgos,  to  avoid  all  risk  of  ignoble  admix- 
ture, not  only  married  their  own  blood  relations,  but 
confined  their  choice  to  first  and  second  cousins;  nor 
was  the  sad  result  to  be  seen  alone  in  decrepit  off- 
spring,   but  also  in  the  birth  of  hopeless  idiots. 

Royal  families  take  a  wider  range,  but  still  not 
sufficient  to  insure  bodily  and  mental  vigor. 

Hence  they  are  for  the  most  part  afflicted  with  he- 
reditary diseases,  but  more  than  all  with  Scrofula, 
which  is  one  of  the  most  offensive  that  pertains  to 
human  nature. 

The  injurious  results  of  a  union  between  per- 
sons having  a  close  moral  and  physical  resemb- 
lance will  be  augmented  if  there  should  also  exist 
a  close  kinship  of  blood. 

But  here  nature  again  kindly  steps  in  to  arrest  the 
evil — for  married  relatives,  near  of  kin,  have  rarely 
if  ever  numerous  progenies,  owing  probably  to  the 
fact  that,  being  for  the  most  part  of  a  like  form  and 
disposition,  the  one  cannot,  frequently  cause  in  the 


INTERMARRIAGE.  230 

other  that  state  of  excitement  which  is  necessary  to 
the  ends  of  reproduction. 

In  fine,  with  man  as  with  animals,  the  best  way 
to  improve  the  breed  is  to  cross  it — for  the  inter- 
marriages of  like  with  like,  and  relative  with  rela- 
tive, not  only  causes  man  to  degenerate,  but  if  the 
system  became  universal,  would  in  time  bring  the 
human  race  to  a  termination  altogether. 

But,  to  the  main  subject  of  this  chapter,  namely: 
the  choice  of  partners. 

A  male  or  female  with  a  very  low  forehead  should 
carefully  avoid  marriage  with  a  person  of  like  con- 
formation, or  their  offspring  will,  in  all  probability, 
be  weak  minded,  perhaps  to  partial  idiocy. 

The  system  of  crossing  is  so  perfect  that  mar- 
riages between  persons  who  are  natives  of  different 
countries  are  likely  to  be  pleasant  and  fruitful. 

Speaking  on  this  subject,  an  English  writer  says: 
1 'The  Persians  have  been  so  improved  by  introducing 
foreigners  to  breed  from,  that  they  have  completely 
succeeded  in  washing  out  the  stain  of  their  Mon- 
golian origin." 

And  the  same  author  adds  to  the  effect  that  in 
those  parts  of  Persia  where  there  is  no  foreign  inter- 
course the  inhabitants  are  sickly  and  stunted,  while 
in  those  that  are  frequented  by  strangers  they  are 
large  and  healthy. 

To  make  what  is  called  a  "handsome  couple"  the 
female  should  be  about  three  inches  less  than  the 
male,  and  if  the  parties  are  proportionately  developed 


*40  INTERMARRIAGE. 

throughout  their  system,  this  selection  may  be  found 
of  advantage  in  other  matters  besides  appearances. 

Wide  haunches  in  a  man,  as  well  as  being  a  de- 
formity, argue  flabbiness  and  a  weak  overgrowth  in 
he  procreant  function. 

On  the  contrary  they  are  a  beauty  in  woman,  and 
a  proof  that  the  productive  organs  are  well  devel- 
oped. 

Hence,  a  strong  and  amor  >us  man  would  not  do 
well  to  marry  a  female  with  narrow  haunches;  for 
though  such  a  pair  may  be  equal  to  the  consumma- 
tion of  marriage,  there  is  almost  certain  to  be  a  diffi- 
culty at  the  time  of  delivery,  especially  if  the  child 
should  be  robust  in  proportion  with  the  father. 

It  may  be  as  well  to  say  here,  that  a  female  with 
narrow  haunches  should  unite  herself  with  a  person 
of  delicate  bodily  construction,  not  only  in  reference 
to  certain  rights,  but  because  the  offspring  of  such 
a  person  is  likely  to  be  small,  and  hence  suited  to 
the  peculiarity  of  her  conformation. 

This  may  seem  to  the  general  reader  a  little  thing 
to  be  so  especial  about;  but  it  involves  advice  of 
great  importance  to  one  for  whom  it  is  intended. 

For  instance,  a  woman  with  narrow  haunches  al 
ways  suffers  much  on  delivery;  the  giving  birth  to 
large  children  seriously  effects  her  health  and 
wrecks  her  constitution:  and  it  constantly  happens 
in  such  cases  that  delivery  cannot  be  affected  at  all, 
unless  by  operations  which  must  destroy  the  life 
either  of  the  child  or  the  mother, 


INTERMARRIAGE.  241 
No  matter  how  delicately  formed  a  female  may  be 
:n  other  parts,  if  her  haunches  are  wide,  the  attri- 
butes thereunto  pertaining  regular  and  proportiona- 
ble, she  need  not  be  afraid  to  marry  a  giant. 

We  use  the  word  haunch  in  its  largest  sense — that 
is  to  express  the  hip  and  fore  and  hinder  part;  or,  in 
other  words,  to  take  in  the  whole  circumference  of 
the  pelvis. 

"A  well  formed  woman,"  says  a  modern  physiol- 
ogist, "should  have  her  head,  shoulders  and  chest 
small  and  compact;  arms  and  limbs  relatively  short; 
the  haunches  apart;  her  hips  elevated;  her  abdomen 
large  and  other  things  voluminous.' * 

Hence  she  should  taper  from  the  center  up  and 
down. 

Great  hollowness  of  the  back,  the  thighs  against 
each  other  in  walking,  and  the  elevation  of  one  hip 
above  the  other  are  indications  of  malformation  of 
the  pelvis." 

From  the  same  writer  I  take  the  following, which 
is  applicable  here;  it  is  very  correct  in  its  estimates 
of  beauty  in  both  sexes: 

The  length  of  the  neck  should  be  proportionately 
less  in  the  male  than  the  female,  because  the  depen- 
dence of  the  mental  system  on  the  vital  one  is  natu- 
rally connected  with  the  shorter  courses  of  the  ves- 
sels of  the  neck. 

The  neck  should  form  a  gradual  transition  be- 
tween the  body  and  head — its  fullness  concealing 
all  prominences  of  the  throat. 


242  INTERMARRIAGE, 

The  shoulders  should  slope  from  the  lower  part 
of  the  neck,  because  the  reverse  shows  that  the  up- 
per part  of  the  chest  owes  its  width  to  the  bones  and 
muscles  of  the  shoulders. 

The  upper  part  of  the  chest  should  be  relatively 
short  and  wide,  independent  of  the  size  of  the  shoul- 
ders, for  this  shows  that  the  vital  organs  which  it 
contains  are  sufficiently  developed. 

The  waist  should  taper  little  farther  than  the  mid- 
dle of  the  trunk,  and  be  marked  especially  in  the 
back  and  loins  by  the  approximation  of  the  hips. 

The  waist  should  be  narrower  than  the  upper  part 
of  the  trunk  and  its  muscles,  because  the  reverse 
indicates  expansion  of  the  stomach,  liver  and  great 
intestines  resulting  from  their  excessive  use. 

The  back  of  woman  should  be  more  hollow  than 
that  of  man;  for  otherwise  the  pelvis  is  not  of  suffi- 
cient depth  for  parturition. 

Woman  should  have  loins  more  extended  than 
man  at  the  expense  of  the  superior  and  inferior 
parts,  for  this  confirmation  is  essential  to  gestation. 

The  abdomen  should  be  larger  in  woman  than  in 
man  for  the  same  reason. 

Over  all  these  parts  the  cellular  tissue,  and  the 
plumpness  connected  with  it,  should  obliterate  all 
distinct  projection  of  muscles. 

The  surface  of  the  whole  female  should  be  char- 
acterized by  its  softness,  elasticity,  smoothness,  del- 
icacy and  polish,  and  by  the  gradual  and  easy  tran- 
sition between  the  parts 


INTERMARRIAGE.  243 

The  moderate  plumpness  already  described  should 
bestow  on  the  organs  of  the  woman  great  suppleness. 

Plumpness  is  essential  to  beauty,  especially  in 
mothers,  because  in  them  the  abdomen  necessarily 
expands,  and  would  afterwards  collapse,  and  become 
wrinkled. 

An  excess  of  plumpness,  however,  is  to  be  guard* 
ed  against.  Young  women  who  are  very  fat  are 
cold,  and  prone  to  barrenness. 

In  no  case  should  plumpness  be  so  predominant 
as  to  destroy  the  distinctness  of  parts. 

A  male  and  female  formed  on  the  above  models 
would  be  well  matched,  and  have  fine  children. 

If  a  female  throws  her  feet  much  to  the  rear  in 
walking,  her  knees  are  inclined  inwards.  A  woman 
who  marches,  rather  than  walks,  has  large  hips, and 
a  well  developed  pelvis. 

If  she  moves  along  trippingly  on  her  tip-toes,  a 
large  calf  and  strong  muscles  are  indicated. 

The  foot  lifted  in  a  slovenly  manner  so  as  to  strike 
the  heel  against  the  back  of  the  dress,  is  a  sure  sign 
of  a  small  calf  and  pelvis. 

A  heavy  walk,  when  there  is  but  little  spring  on  the 
toes, evidences  a  slenderness  and  weakness  of  limbs. 

When  the  foot  and  ankle  assume  a  bony  appear- 
ance, and  the  heel  strikes  the  ground  before  the  ball 
or  edge  of  the  foot,  they  indicate  that  the  female  has 
passed  the  meridian  of  life,  no  matter  how  other  ap- 
pearances may  weigh  against  this. 

Blue  eyes  should  marry  black;  for  when  persons 


244  WHAT  AGE  TO  MARRY. 

both  having  blue  are  united,  their  offspring  are  apt 
to  have  very  light  hair  and  a  tendency  to  blind- 
ness. 

When  a  person  is  of  consumptive  habits,  this  is  a 
peculiarly  important  consideration,  for  it  is  known 
that  in  consumptive  families  hazel  and  black-eyed 
children  die,  while  the  blue-eyed  live. 

Hence,  a  man  or  woman  having  dark  eyes  and  a 
consumptive  tendency,  should  choose  a  blue-eyed 
partner. 

However,  we  by  no  means  advise  consumptive 
persons  to  marry  at  all;  that  is,  unless  the  disease  be 
artificially  produced  and  not  hereditary;  for  in  the 
former  case  matrimony  may  be  of  service,  and  has 
been  known  to  produce  a  permanent  cure,  even 
when  all  other  applications  have  failed. 

The  person  who  studies  this  book  thoroughly  will 
not  be  easily  deceived  in  the  make,  form,  or  internal 
conformation  of  either  male  or  female,  though  hav- 
ing to  judge  them  outside  their  dress. 

The  moral  qualities  are  matters  to  be  discovered 
by  parentage,  time  and  conversation. 

And  thus  advised,  there  cannot  be  much  difficulty 
jn  bringing  about  matrimonial  arrangements,  so  as  to 
"cross  the  breed;"  which  as  we  have  clearly  shown 
is  a  consideration  of  much  importance  in  married  life. 

AT  WHAT  AGE  TO  MARRY. 

Very  early  in  life,  varying  from  ten  to  sixteen  years, 
begins  to  be  felt  the  anxiety  of  the  sexes  to  be  to- 
gether, and  were  people  more  robust  as  they  might 


WHAT  AGE  TO  MARRY.  245 

be  did  they  live  in  a  simple  state  of  nature,  and 
without  suffering  the  fatigues  and  hardships  gener- 
ally experienced  in  savage  life — the  chances  are  that 
their  desires  might  be  consummated  as  well  then  as 
in  after  years,  and  without  the  incurring  of  physical 
injun\  As  it  is,  however,  there  is  a  serious  day  of 
reckoning  for  early  indulgence;  for  precocious  per- 
sons—unless their  constitutions  are  as  powerful  as 
their  desire — who  give  way  to  their  passions  at  first 
exactions,  barter  their  youth  for  their  enjoyment, 
and  are  old  and  weary  of  the  world  at  an  age  when 
people  of  more  moderate  habits  are  only  in  the 
meridian  of  pleasure  and  existence. 

It  has  been  written  over  and  over  again  that  in 
Arabia,  and  other  warm  climates,  girls  of  twelve, 
and  boys  of  fonrteen,  are  ripe  enough  for  marriage. 
In  their  affections  they  may  be — for  there,  in  a  warm 
climate,  it  effects  an  undoubted  influence,  but  oth- 
erwise, they  are  unsuited  for  such  a  change  of  life; 
for  early  communion  of  the  sexes  is  as  productive 
of  physical  prostration  in  sultry  latitudes  as  in 
other  places. 

Tne  proper  age  to  marry,  all  over  the  world,  is  be- 
tween twenty-five  and  thirty  for  men,  nineteen  and 
twenty-five  for  women;  and  in  fyct,  previous  to  the 
age  of  twenty -five  and  nineteen,  they  are,  as  a  gen- 
eral rule,  inadequate  to  the  requirements  of  matri- 
monial intercourse.  Some  young  men  who  imagine 
that  early  development  of  the  passions  is  a  proof  of 
manhood,  will  not  be  ready  to  admit  this,  but  V?e  can 
tell  them  that  their  strength  to  accomplish  dcxss  £UX 


246  WHAT  AGE  f O  MAkkY. 

keep  pace  with  their  will  to  dare.  Hence  boys  who 
marry  derive  but  little  enjoyment  from  the  connubial 
state;  and  the  ladies  who  unite  themselves  with  ju- 
veniles become  disappointed,  and  suspect  their  hus- 
band of  incapacity- — (we  dare  not  give  it  a  more  ap- 
propriate title) — whereas,  the  only  thing  they  are  de- 
ficient m  is  age.  Many  a  separation,  and  even  elope- 
ment has  been  thus  occasioned;  and  the  offspring  of 
such  marriages  is  usually  puny  and  consumptive. 

Further,  men  who  marry  too  young,  unless  they 
are  of  cold  and  phlegmatic  constitutions,  and  thus 
moderate  in  their  conduct,  become  partially  bald 
dim  of  sight,  and  lose  all  elasticity  of  limb  in  a  few 
years;  while  women  in  a  like  position  rarely  have 
any  bloom  in  their  cheek  or  fire  in  their  eye  by  the 
time  they  are  twenty-five.  And  all  profound  phy- 
siologists agree  that,  from  the  same  cause,  the  menj 
tal  faculties  suffer  in  the  same  ratio. 

A  medium,  however,  is  to  be  observed.  It  is  not 
well  to  defer  till  middle  age  the  period  of  connubial 
intercourse;  for  too  tedious  spinstership  is  as  much 
calculated  to  hasten  the  decay  of  beauty,  as  too 
early  a  marriage.  Hence,  there  is  rarely  any  fresh j 
ness  to  be  seen  in  the  maiden  of  thirty,  while  the 
matron  of  that  age,  if  her  life  has  been  a  happy  one, 
and  her  h)^menial  condition  of  not  more  than  ten 
years  standing,  is  scarcely  in  the  hey-day  of  her 
charms.  And  the  same  rule  will  apply  with  equal 
force  to  the  other  sex,  for  after  the  first  prime  of 
iife,  bachelors  decay  and  grow  old  much  faster  than 
married  men.    Hence,  says  the  poet. 


What  age  to  marry.  247 

"Connubial  pleasures  keep  men  in  their  prime, 
While  those  who  shun  them  wither  ere  their  time." 

The  rich  are  qualified,  for  marriage  before  the  poor. 
This  is  owing  to  the  superiority  of  their  aliment;  for 
very  nutritious  food  and  the  constant  use  of  wines, 
coffee,  etc. ,  greatly  assist  in  developing  the  organs 
of  reproduction,  whereas  the  food  generally  made 
use  of  among  the  peasantry  in  most  countries,  as 
vegetables,  corn,  milk,  etc.,  retards  their  growth. 
Owing  to  this  difference  of  diet,  the  daughter  of  a 
man  of  wealth,  who  keeps  a  good  table,  wTill  be  as  ad- 
equate to  certain  duties  of  married  life  at  eighteen  as 
the  daughter  of  a  humble  peasant  at  twenty-one.  Sin- 
gular as  it  may  seem, it  is  none  the  less  true, that  love 
novels,  amorous  conversations,  playing  parlor  games 
for  kisses,  voluptuous  pictures,  wTaltzing,  and  in  fact 
all  things  having  a  tendency  to  create  desire  assist 
in  promotiug  puberty  and  preparing  young  persons 
for  early  marriage.  Those  who  reach  this  estate, 
however,  by  artificial  means,  and  much  before  the 
natural  period,  will  have  to  suffer  for  it  in  after  life. 

Maidens  suffering  from  peculiar  diseases,  as  nym- 
phomania, uterine  epilepsy,  green  sickness  (wThich  is 
mostly  the  result  of  love),  virgin  convulsions,  etc., 
should  be  married  as  soon  as  possible,  though  they 
have  scarcely  passed  the  term  of  puberty,  for  mar- 
riage is  a  certain  cure  in  these  complaints,  and  cannot, 
at  this  period,  do  as  much  evil  as  it  w7ill  effect  good. 

The  female  who  marries  before  the  completion  of 
her  womanhood — that  is  before  her  puberty  is  estab- 
lished— will  cease  to  grow  and  probably  become  pale 


248  FACTS  OF  IMPORTANCE. 

and  dea  cate,  the  more  especially  if  she  becomes 
pregnant  soon  after  marriage.  A  person  thus  cir- 
cumstanced will  also  be  liable  to  abortion  and  pain- 
ful deliveries.  In  fine,  unless  under  very  peculiar 
circumstances  indeed — such,  for  instance,  as  may 
be  involved  in  the  afflictions  noticed  in  the  preced- 
ing paragraph — marriage  should  not  take  place  un- 
til two  or  three  years  after  puberty.  Let  us,  there- 
fore, advise  the  male  reader  to  keep  his  desires  in 
leading-strings  until  he  is  at  least  twenty- five,  and 
the  female  not  to  enter  within  the  pale  of  wedlock 
until  she  is  past  her  eighteenth  3^ear;  but  after  those 
periods,  marriage  is  their  proper  sphere  of  action, 
and  one  in  which  they  must  play  a  part,  or  sufFei 
actual  pain,  as  well  as  the  loss  of  one  of  the  great- 
est of  earthly  pleasures;  for  Nature  is  a  tyrant,  anct 
will  not  be  deprived  of  this,  perhaps  the  most  im* 
perative  of  her  claims,  with  impunity. 

FACTS  OF  MUCH  IMPORTANCE  TO  BOTH  SEXES. 

The  knowledge  contained  in  this  chapter  is  tha 
result  of  many  years'  research,  thought  and  exper- 
ience. It  contains  much  that  will  be  new  to  the 
reader,  but  nothing  is  authoritatively  advanced,  the 
truth  of  which  we  have  not  fairly  tested.  Young 
physicians  will  be  pleased  to  find  so  much  that  they 
should  know  in  a  few  words,  for  the  chapter  con- 
tains nearly  everything  worth  seeking  for  connect- 
ed with  the  subjects  it  treats  of,  and  many  things 
not  considered,  or  even  hinted  at,  by  previous  phy- 
siologists. 


FRUITFUL  MONTHS. 


'249 


OX  PHYSIOLOGY. 

Physiology  is  the  science  of  life — life  itself  being 
an  aggregate  of  phenomena,  which  manifest  them- 
selves in  organized  bodies.  Some  philosophers  hold 
the  opinion  that  it  is  merely  the  effect  of  the  play 
of  the  element  on  certain  combinations  of  matter, 
and  that  there  is  no  such  thing  as  a  living  princi- 
ple. This  theory,  however,  is  easilly  disproved; 
but  not  by  the  substitution  of  any  which  explains 
the  mystery  of  sentient  existence. 

OBSTRUCTIONS. 

Should  any  unexpected  barriers  be  discovered  to 
the  consummation  of  the  rights  of  marriage,  a  physi- 
cian should  be  consulted  without  delay.  A  false 
modesty  in  such  cases  may  be  productive  of  the  mcst 
serious  consequences.  The  Duchess  du  Barry  is  a 
case  in  point.  After  being  married  about  six  weeks, 
she  was  on  the  eve  ot  separating  from  her  husband, 
|  when  one  of  the  ladies  of  the  court  learned  the  cause, 

and  prevailed  on  her  to  consult  one  of  the  faculty, 
who  soon  set  all  right.  However,  both  the  duke 
and  duchess  had  suffered  much  through  their  delay 
or  ignorance. 

THE  FRUITFUL  MONTHS. 

It  is  estimated  that  the  healthiest  children  are 
born  in  February,  March,  April  and  May.  Conse- 
quently,  May,  June,  July  and  August  must  be  the 
months  most  auspicious  to  conception.  This  is 
merely  the  popular  theory,  but  Dubois,  I^a  Basche, 
and  the  skillful  writer  Le  Temps  assert  that  theiz 
%  experience  corroborates  it, 


250 


HABITUAL  MISCARRIAGE. 


TWINS. 

A  female  may  have  twins,  the  offspring  of  differ- 
ent fathers.  Thus,  a  woman  in  North  America, 
being  delivered  the  same  day  of  a  black  and  white 
infant,  acknowledged  that  nine  months  before  she 
had  been  with  her  husband  and  a  negro  slave.  In 
births  where  one  child  precedes  the  other  for  one  or 
two  months,  it  is  fair  to  suspect  adultery.  Indeed, 
the  infants  themselves  usually  give  evidence  of  a 
different  parentage. 

MARRIAGE  AND  POETRY. 

Marriage  blunts  the  imagination.  A  married 
writer  of  fiction  must  hold  Hymen  in  check,  or  weary 
his  readers;  and  poetry  is  almost  irreconcilable  with 
the  state  of  wedlock. 

Schiller  observes,  that  one  cannot  woo  his  wife 
and  the  muses;  and  there  is,  no  doubt,  much  philos- 
ophy in  the  assnmption. 

Thus  it  would  seem  that  poetry  is  the  escape  of 
love  when  not  otherwise  directed. 

IDEAS  OF  BEAUTY. 

Men  of  poetical  or  sanguine  temperament  prefer 
the  beauty  of  the  face. 

Those  of  stronger  animal  propensities,  the  beauty 
of  the  form. 

The  latter  make  the  most  attentive  husbands,  as 
they  are  most  content  with  the  realities  of  life. 

HABITUAL,  MISCARRIAGES. 

The  force  of  habit  is  such  in  women,  that  when  a 
female  once  miscarries  she  will  always  be  liable  to 
miscarry  when  the  same  stage  of  pregnancy  occurs, 


RESEMBLANCES. 


COLOR  OF  THE  SKIN. 

The  complexion  or  the  skin  depends  on  that  of 
the  rete  mucosum,  a  glutinous  substance  that  lies 
between  the  under  and  outward  skin.  In  blacks 
this  membrane  contains  an  inky  fluid,  which  is 
ascribed  to  carbon  and  the  increase  of  bilious  secre- 
tions in  hot  climates. 

puberty. 

At  the  time  of  puberty  the  blood  of  both  sexes 
tends  towards  the  parts  subservient  to  reproduction, 
which  causes  these  organs  to  awake  from  their  tor- 
por and  expand. 

THE  HAIR. 

A  profusion  of  hair  is  a  sign  of  an  amorous  dispo- 
sition; as  is  also  a  rough  husky  voice.  When  a 
man  is  castrated  he  loses  his  beard,  and  his  voice 
grows  feminine.  He  is  also  liable  to  periodical 
hemorrhages,  like  the  other  sex.  Likewise  he  be- 
comes artful,  depraved  and  foolish. 

RESEMBLANCES. 

Children  should  resemble  both  parents,  or  there 
may  be  a  fair  doubt  of  their  legitimacy.  However, 
notwithstanding  the  theories  of  Strauss,  Gutilett 
and  Walker  the  rule  is  not  imperative;  for  we,  and 
others,  have  seen  infants  who,  in  face  or  form,  bore 
not  the  slightest  similitude  to  their  female  parents; 
which  must  be  taken  as  proof  positive  in  the  prem- 
ises. Still,  this  so  rarely  occurs  as  to  be  only  the 
exceptions  to  the  rule. 


252  PERIOD  OF  CHILD-BEARING. 


RENEWING  LIFE. 

In  1677,  France  was  thrown  into  a  state  of  great 
excitement,  by  the  publication  of  a  theory  of  life  by 
a  physician  named  Richard  Lower,  who  contended 
that  life  might  be  renewed  and  prolonged  indefinitely 
by  transferring  the  blood  of  young  into  old  people. 

The  system  wras  first  tried  on  dogs,  with — accord- 
ing to  Lower — the  most  successful  results.  How- 
ever, it  not  only  failed  with  men,  but  in  some  in- 
stances, it  came  near  killing  those  who  were  candi- 
dates for  immortality,  owing  to  the  difference  of  the 
temperament  between  the  receiver  and  giver  of  the 
blood .  Nevertheless,  the  doctrine  continues  to  be 
steadily  maintained  by  some  visionaries,  with  this 
saving  clause,  that  the  party  who  received  the  vital 
fluid,  must  have  been  of  the  same  habits,  tempera- 
ment, state  of  health,  etc.,  when  at  the  same  age  of 
him  who  yielded  it. 

LONG  COURTSHIPS. 

Beware  of  long  courtships,  for  there  are  so  many 
slips  between  the  cup  and  the  lip,  that  it  is  almost 
as  well  to  marry  in  haste  and  repent  at  leisure. 

PERIOD  OF  CHILD-BEARING. 

Women  may  be  ten,  eleven,  and  even  twelve  months 
in  a  certain  condition,  the  ignorance  whereof  causes 
much  domestic  trouble,  and  has  occasionally  been  the 
means  of  divorces.  On  the  contrary,  full  grown  chil- 
dren may  be  born  in  the  seventh  month  after  concep- 
tion, and  some  say  in  the  sixth  or  even  less,  but  we 
doubt  them.  At  least,  out  of  all  our  experience,  we 
never  had  personal  knowledge  of  a  case  of  the  sort 


BAD  HABITS. 


253 


but  one,  and  then  we  had  our  suspicions,  grounded 
on  various  circumstances  apart  from  the  main  one, 
which  were  rather  unfavorable  to  the  lady's  char- 
acter. 

EXCESSES. 

Beware  of  youthful  excesses,  for  sooner  or  later 
they  have  to  be  paid  for. 

A  great  English  philosopher  truly  says,  "the  de-  * 
bauches  of  youth  are  so  many  conspiracies  against 
old  age." 

BAD  HABITS. 

There  is  but  one  mode  in  which  the  sexes  of  the 
human  race  can  know  each  other  without  the  sacri- 
fice of  pleasure,  and  probably  risks  of  yet  greatet 
importance,  and  that  mode  is  dictated  by  nature. 

Valsalva  and  others  assumed  that  monstrous 
births  were  often  occasioned  by  shunning  the  advice 
of  nature  in  this  particular. 

GREEN  SICKNESS. 

One  of  the  most  active  causes  of  laborious  or  ob' 
structed  menstruation  is  disappointment  in  love,  and 
a  transfer  of  the  affection  would  work  a  cure  without 
any  other  remedy. 

Suppressed  catamenia,  excessive  menstruation,  dys- 
pepsia, and  other  causes,  occasionally  produce  green 
sickness,  which  may  be  detected  by  the  pale,  lurid 
and  greenish  cast  of  the  skin;  but  the  leading  cause 
is  disappointment  in  love,  or  in  other  words  inability 
to  obtain  the  object  of  one's  desires;  for  it  rarely  af- 
fects either  sex  until  after  the  age  of  puberty,  and 


254  THE  HYMEN. 

then  it  is  known  to  have  a  manifest  influence  over 
the  prolific  organs.  For  this  disease,  when  occas- 
ioned by  love,  cooling  aperients,  and  the  daily  use 
of  a  bidet,  may  be  of  advantage;  but  a  more  certain 
remedy  will  be  found  on  the  preceding  page. 

LIVING  EODIES. 

All  living  bodies  spring  from  a  germ  which  was 
part  of  another  being.  This  rule  holds  good  through- 
out the  vegetable  and  animal  kingdom. 

FOR  AND  AGAINST. 

Consumption  in  either  sex  has  been  corrected  by 
marriage.  The  chances,  however,  are  in  favor  of 
females,  for  it  has  been  known  to  bring  the  decay  of 
man  to  a  hastier  climax. 

THE  HYMEN. 

The  existence  of  the  hymen  in  woman  is  no  cer- 
tain evidence  of  virginity — neither  is  its  absence 
evidence  of  defloration. 

Young  females  may  be  deprived  of  it  by  illness; 
and  it  has  been  found  in  ladies  at  the  period  of  de- 
livery. However  these  are  exceptions,  and  very 
rare  ones. 

As  a  general  rule  the  hymen  indicates  the  maiden 
and  vice  versa ;  so  that  a  man  missing  it  on  marriage 
may  have  good  grounds  for  suspecting  his  wife's 
chastity,  unless  she  can  otherwise  explain  the  cause 
of  its  absence. 

COQUETRY. 

Beware  how  you  marry  a  confirmed  coquette; for  her 
manners  are  not  so  much  the  result  of  affectation  as 


TEETHING. 


255 


the  actual  changes  of  her  mind,  and  her  phreno- 
logical developments  will  show  that  constancy  is  not 
in  her  nature. 

Baillie  had,  no  doubt,  good  grounds  for  saying  that 
a  confirmed  coquet  would  rather  have  any  man  than 
her  husband,  after  the  first  six  months  of  marriage. 

LONGING  FOR  MARRIAGE. 

Young  unmarried  ladies,  from  the  time  they  ar- 
rive at  the  age  of  puberty,  think  and  talk  about  lj  t- 
tle  else  besides  love  and  its  attributes. 

Young  men,  however,  though  they  have  other  ob- 
jects of  pursuit,  are  more  carried  away  by  the  passion. 

When  crossed  in  iove,  a  woman  becomes  melan- 
choly, a  man  insane. 

TEETHING. 

The  small  molar  teeth  appear  beiween  the  age  of 
eighteen  months  and  two  years,  and  then  the  first 
dentition  is  complete, and  the  child's  life  more  secure. 
Convulsions  and  diarrhoea  are  the  most  fatal  acci- 
dents attending  dentition,  and  call  for  all  the  nurse's 
care.  Teething  children  are  often  lost  by  neglect 
or  ill  advice.  Perhaps  the  best  of  remedies  xS 
Castoria  —  the  infant's  and  children's  great 
soothing  remedy.  It  is  sold  by  all  medicine  deal- 
ers.   Price  thirty -five  cents  per  bottle. 

sensations. 

Infants  laugh  toward  the  middle  of  the  second 
month,  which  shows  that  they  begin  at  that  period 
to  be  capable  of  agreeable  sensations.  Not  to  smile 
at  that  time,  or  very  soon  after,  may  be  taken  as  an 
evidence  of  sickness. 


256 


MERCURY. 


MERCURY. 

Mercury,  in  its  metallic  state,  exerts  no  action  on 
the  animal  economy.  It  has,  nevertheless, been  ad- 
ministered in  large  doses,  with  a  view  of  operating 
mechanically  and  overcoming  by  its  weight  obstruc- 
tions existing  in  the  ileus,  but  as  it  cannot  act  by  its 
gravity  on  the  ascending  part  of  the  bowels, it  is  not 
easy  to  conceive  how  it  should  have  ever  been  rec- 
ommended; and  the  issue  of  the  cases  in  which  it 
has  been  given  have  sufficiently  proved  the  futility 
of  the  practice. 

It  was  formerly  thought  that  mercurial  prepara- 
tions constituted  an  unfailing  specific  for  every  form 
of  the  venereal  disease,  and  that  unless  this  mineral 
were  administered  freely,  it  was  the  nature  of  syph- 
ilitic affections  to  go  on  progressively  from  bad  to 
worse  till  the  end  was  the  infallible  destruction  of  life. 
And  during  the  middle  of  the  last  century,  as  well  as 
later,  when  the  doctrines  of  the  celebrated  Hunter 
were  received  with  implicit  submission,  when  med- 
ical practitioners  bowed  contentedly  to  the  authori- 
ty of  great  names,  not  daring  to  think  for  themselves; 
or  to  acquire  from  patient  and  personal  observation, 
correct  notions  of  the  progress  of  diseases  and  the 
action  of  remedies;  during  thr  existence  of  such  a 
state  of  things,  doubtless  many  unfortunate  victims 
of  venereal  contagion  have  perished,  not  so  much  from 
the  virulence  of  the  affection  as  from  the  incautious 
and  injudicious  operation  of  active  and  dangerous, 
as  well  as  deadly  agents,  employed  professedly  for 
its  cure    (At  that  time  it  was  thought  that  if  any 


sore,  the  result  of  impure  coition,  were  observed  to 
heal  without  mercury  having  been  given,  that  it 
could  not  have  been  venereal,  nor  likely  to  be  fol- 
lowed by  any  constitutional  symptoms.) 

When  we  take  into  consideration  the  variety  of 
forms  under  which  syphilitic  disease  is  cloaked,  and 
the  general  treatment,  we  cannot  but  deplore  the 
great  loss  of  life,  which  is  daily  occurring  from  the 
use  of  this  mineral,  which  is  constantly  administered 
by  medical  men  at  the  present  dayjthe  blood  is  pois- 
oned by  it,  and  by  being  so,  it  conveys  wherever  it 
travels  in  the  arteries  and  veins,  the  seeds  of  disease. 

The  blood  thus  poisoned  goes  to  the  heart,  and 
diseases  of  this  organ  are  the  consequence.  It  goes  to 
the  lungs,  and  these  organs  becomes  morbidly  derang- 
ed in  fact,  to  whatever  part  of  the  system  it  travels, 
there  it  lays  the  foundation  of  disease.  In  cases 
like  these  it  was  formerly  the  custom  of  the  faculty 
not  to  rid  the  system  of  the  poison  which  is  destroy- 
ing the  unhappy  sufferer  by  inches,  and  preying 
upon  his  vitals,  but  they  have  pursued  a  course  of 
treatment  as  incorrect  in  sound  theory,  as  it  is  re- 
pugnant to  humanity  and  common  sense. 

One  would  have  supposed  that  some  drug  would 
have  been  administered  to  counteract  the  effects  of 
the  poison  circulating  in  the  veins.  Not  so!  Instead 
of  so  doing,  poisons  were  thrown  into  the  system, in 
the  shape  of  arsenic,  and  other  mineral  poisons;  so 
that  the  unfortunate  sufferer,  instead  of  being  bene- 
fitted was  doomed  to  pass  years  of  misery  and  unhap- 
piness.    In  treating  the  venereal  disease,  it  used  to. 


258 


MERCURY. 


be  (and  1  am  sorry  to  say  it  is  to  some  extent  at  the 
present)  the  practice  always  to  throw  into  the  system 
immense  quantities  of  mercury.  And  what  were 
the  consequences  of  this  unnatural  and  inhuman 
mode  of  treatment?  The  unfortunate  being  had 
caries  of  his  bones,  copper  colored  eruptions  made 
their  appearance  all  over  his  body,  with  running- 
sores  in  the  neck,  and  distorted  features. 

Yes,  the  rotten  skulls  which  are  to  be  found  in 
anatomical  museums,  with  all  the  other  beautiful 
specimens  of  diseased  bones,  which  in  our  younger 
days  were  so  abundant  in  hospitals,  in  the  great 
majority  of  cases  were  the  production  of  long  and 
harassing  courses  of  mercury. 

Its  rash,  indiscriminate  use  is  the  means  of  infinite 
mischief.  Under  the  notion  of  its  being  an  antidote 
for  a  certain  disease,  the  untutored  think  they  have 
only  to  saturate  their  system  with  mercury,  and  the 
business  is  accomplished.  Fatal  error!  Thousands  are 
yearly  either  mercurialized  out  of  existence,  or  their 
constitution  so  broken,  and  their  functions  of  nature 
so  impaired, as  to  render  the  residue  of  life  miserable. 
For  where  is  the  practitioner  of  any  eminence,  whose 
experience  beyond  a  first  or  second  slight  infection, 
has  not  seen  the  ineficiency  of  this  boasted  mineral? 

If  physicians  and  surgeons,  those  of  them  who  have 
the  care  of  hospitals  in  particular,  were  candid 
enough  to  give  the  public  all  the  information  they 
could  upon  this  head, it  would  be  as  generally  known 
as  it  is  true,  not  only  that  mercury  frequently  fails 
in  cases  where  the  infection  has  been  contracted  for 


MERCURY. 


259 


the  first  time,  and  that  as  it  loses  its  energy  by  rep- 
etition (not  indeed  against  the  constitution  but 
against  the  disease  alone,)  the  cure  becomes  at  each 
succeeding  infection  more  dangerous,  difficult  and 
uncertain  than  the  last;  but  that  instances  every  day 
occur,  in  which  the  excessive  exhibition  of  that  min- 
eral seems  to  retard  the  cure,  and  be  the  only  ob- 
stacle to  entire  removal  of  the  disease;  instances  in 
which  the  patient,  reduced  by  disease  and  the  reme- 
dy together  to  such  a  state,  that  certain  death  must 
follow  any  longer  persistence  in  the  use  of  mercury, 
is  sent  to  the  country  as  a  last  resource,  and  there 
without  any  other  remedy  but  the  absence  of  mercu- 
ry alone,  recovers  his  former  health  aod  strength. 

To  give  the  reader  an  idea  of  its  ill  effects  upon  the 
system,  I  will  here  make  an  extract  from  a  late  pub- 
lication of  the  justly  celebrated  Professor  of  Surgery 
in  London  University  College,  Mr.  Liston:  "Of  the 
bad  effects  of  mercury  on  the  constitution,  much  has 
been  said;  treatises  have  been  written  on  mercurial 
pox,  a  species  reported  to  be  much  the  most  violent; 
and  others  have  detailed  an  accumulation  of  evils 
under  the  title  of  mercurial  disease.  There  is  no 
doubt  that  extensive,  deep  and  sloughy  ulcers  of  the 
throat  are  produced  by  mercury,  and  of  this  I  saw 
the  following  unexceptionable  instance:  The  fauces 
presented  one  extensive  mass  of  ulceration,  slough- 
ing at  its  margins,  and  the  uvula  was  almost  detached 
The  patient  was  an  old  and  emaciated  woman  who 
neither  had,  nor  could  be  supposed  to  have,  any  ve- 
pereal  complaint.    She  employed  herself  in  coating: 


260  MERCURY. 

mirrors  with  quicksilver,  and  to  that  ascribed  her 
malady.  In  fact,  her  system  had  been  long  under 
mercury,  in  consequence  of  her  occupation.  When 
I  visited  her,  her  daughter  and  husband  [the  latter 
of  whom  was  paralytic,  and  almost  bed-ridden,]  were 
affected  from  the  same  cause,  with  a  pustular  erup- 
tion of  the  face,  and  disease  of  the  nostrils  and  sniv- 
eling. Another  old  woman  had  numerous  and  deep 
ulcers  of  the  fauces,  tonsils  and  lips,  having  been 
kept  unmercifully  under  mercury  for  nine  continuous 
months.  She  had  besides  taken  it,  from  time  to  time, 
for  upwards  of  four  years,  though  her  sole  complaint 
was  a  slight  sore  throat."  Pains  of  the  joints,  too,  I 
believe,  are  attributable  to  the  use  of  mercury.  That 
mineral  has  no  power  to  prevent  the  occurrence  of 
nodes,  for  these  form  during  its  action.  Affections 
of  the  periosteum  are  easily  excited  in  some  people, 
who  have  neither  had  pox,  nor  made  use  of  mercury, 
but  in  no  instance  of  venereal  disease  have  I  observ- 
ed serious  affections  of  the  bones  where  it  has  not  been 
given.  Even  the  advocates  for  mercurializing,  speak 
of  mercurial  nodes.  It  has  been  asserted,  that  nodes 
do  not  occur  when  mercury  has  been  given  for  liver 
and  other  complaints;  but  they  do  form  under  such 
circumstances,  though  not  so  frequently  as  when  the 
medicine  has  been  given  during  venereal  symptoms. 
A  cachetic  state  is  often  produced  by  a  continued 
use  of  mercurial  preparations,  or  at  least  by  mercury 
and  divSease  together,  in  constitutions  not  originally 
strong.  It  is  m«arked  by  pale  lips,  bloodless  conjunc- 
tiva; a  rough  anserine  skin  ;  a  relaxed  state  of  the  mu^ 


MERCURY.  263 

SOUS  membranes;  hemorrhage  from  them,  paiticu- 
larly  from  the  gums,  which  may  prove  fatal,  as  I 
have  myself  witnessed;  exfoliation  of  the  alveolar 
processes,  slimy  stools;  pale  urine;  pains  of  the 
limbs;  sores  showing  great  indolence  of  action  or 
assuming  a  malignant  one;  dropsical  symptoms  and 
other  evils,  of  which  a  lengthened  catalogue  might 
be  enumerated.  Such  symptoms  were  often  met 
with  when  mercury  was  exhibited  for  every  trifling 
or  suspected  sign  of  disease. 

On  this  subject,  a  modern  writer  has  well  remark-, 
ed,  '  'experience  has  well  convinced  me  that  in  no 
forms  of  chancre,  nor  in  any  other  stages  of  the  ve- 
nereal disease,  is  it  proper  to  exhibit  mercury  in  the 
unmerciful  quantity  and  for  the  prodigious  length 
of  time  which  custom,  ignorance  and  prejudice  used 
to  sanction  in  former  days.  Violent  salivations 
ought,  at  all  events,  to  be  forever  exploded." 

This  woful  picture  is  not  exaggerated,  and  cannot 
be  too  strongly  impressed  on  the  mind.  A  small 
quantity  'of  mercury  will  violently  affect  some  con- 
stitutions, as  of  those  who  have  been  in  warm  cli- 
mates, or  have  taken  much  of  the  drug  even  in  this 
country. 

There  are  also  several  diseased  appearances  of  the 
skin  caused  by  mercury;  butenough.it  is  hoped,  has 
been  said  to  warn  against  this  powerful  agent,  which 
it  has  been  too  much  the  custom,  even  in  our  own 
day,  to  make  as  common  use  of  as  the  more  simple 
contents  of  the  domestic  medicine  chest-    I^et  it 


J62  CONCEPTION. 

ways  be  remembered  that  in  all  its  forms  and  prep- 
arations mercury  is  a  two-edged  sword,  and  may  af- 
fect as  much  or  more  evil  than  good.  And  forget 
not,  oh  indulgent  reader,  that  it  is  the  active  ingre- 
dient of  nine-tenths  of  the  quack  nostrums  for  ve- 
nereal diseases,  though  their  vendors  warrant  them 
vegetable;  but  "by  their  fruits  ye  shall  know  them." 
conception. 

It  often  happens  with  newly- married  couples  that 
the  first  year  of  their  marriage  is  unfruitful  on  ac- 
count of  their  too  frequent  amorous  embraces.  Bon- 
aparte and  Josephine  seem  not  to  have  been  adapted 
to  each  other,  and  though  the  former  used  various 
tinctures,  borax,  marjorum,  etc.,  they  had  no  off- 
spring; but  both  of  them  had  issue  when  joined  to 
other  partners.  Conjugal  enjoyment  on  the  part  of 
the  female  should  be  followed  by  repose,  as  but  very 
little  motion  or  agitation  in  persons  of  warm  tem- 
perament is  sometimes  sufficient  to  prevent  the  ovu~ 
lum  from  reaching  its  proper  location. 

A  female  desirous  of  conceiving  must  not  cohabit 
too  frequently  for  the  first  month  alter  her  supposed 
conception,  as  the  spasmodic  agitation  consequent 
upon  the  embrace  of  a  very  amorous  couple  is  calcu- 
lated to  disturb  the  embryo  in  its  earliest  stage  of 
existence,  and  hence  occasion  abortion  or  miscarriage 

Finally,  the  great  cause  of  barrenness  is  weakness 
and  debility  on  the  part  of  the  male  or  female  or 
both.  Dubois  says  that  if  this  matter  was  attended 
to,  nine -tenths  of  the  people  who  are  now  pining 
for  heirs  might  be  blessed  with  numerous  progenies. 


►  CONCEPTION.  263 

The  principal  causes  of  this  debility  are  libertin- 
ism and  that  horrid  practice  of  masturbation  or 
self-abuse  upon  which  we  have  treated  at  large  in 
other  parts  of  this  work.  Among  the  minor  causes 
are  tight-lacing,  dancing  immoderately,  stimulating 
drugs,  such  as  cantharides,  arrow-root,  tincture  of 
lyttae,  port  wine,  syrup  of  pine-apples,  mushrooms 
roasted  and  steeped  in  salad-oil  and  borax.  All 
these  are  worse  than  useless,  for  many  of  them  ac- 
tually injure  the  person. 

Unprincipled  quacks  palm  off  their  injurious  and 
nauseating  stuff  for  money,  regardless  of  the  lasting 
injury  to  those  who  are  unfortunate  enough  to  use 
them.  Yet  some  of  these  remedies,  sold  for  the  cure 
of  sterility,  impotency,  weakness  or  debility,  diur- 
nal and  nocturnal  emissions,  or  loss  of  semen,  are 
actually  recommended  by  physicians,  either  from 
ignorance  or  self-interest.  Some  imagine  there  are 
fertilizing  properties  in  duckweed,  carrots,  water- 
cresses,  potatoes,  figs,  dandelions,  fish,  eggs  and 
hemp-seed.  They  are  generally  incentives  to  amor- 
ous feelings,  but  nothing  more.  In  some  countries 
the  females  swallow  spiders,  flies,  ants,  crickets  and 
even  frogs,  to  promote  fecundation. 

The  most  auspicious  time  for  promoting  genera- 
tion is  in  the  morning. 

A  female  with  a  low  womb,  married  to  a  muscu- 
lar man,  will  probably  fail  in  having  any  offspring  if 
the  difficulty  is  not  corrected. 

It  is  a  popular  error  that  there  is  a  mode  by  which 
male  or  female  offspring  may  be  produced  at  will.  It 


264  CAUTION. 

is  of  no  consequence  whose  theory  of  the  myster'es 
of  reproduction  is  correct,  they  are  agreed  on  cer- 
tain points  which  show  this  to  be  impossible.  There 
are  tolerably  conclusive  rules,  however,  for  telling 
the  sexes  of  children  before  they  are  born.  Ladies 
experience  more  sickness  with  boys  than  with  girls, 
which  may  be  caused  by  their  generally  being  larger 
and  more  lively.  Their  appetites  generally  vary, 
such  as  food  that  is  hearty  for  one,  and  of  a  different 
kind  for  the  other.  A  roundness  of  the  form  prom- 
ises a  boy;  whereas,  when  the  tendency  is  nearly 
all  to  the  front  and  the  hips  and  back  give  but  little 
evidence  of  the  lady's  situation,  the  great  probability 
is  that  the  little  stranger  is  a  girl.  When  a  preg- 
nant female  is  prone  to  sickness  in  the  morning, 
longs  for  food  of  an  invigorating  quality,  and  car- 
ries her  increase  of  form  rather  all  around  her  than 
in  any  particular  place,  the  chances  are  altogether 
in  favor  of  a  boy;  whereas,  if  her  symptoms  are 
otherwise,  and  as  described  above,  she  -will,  in  all 
probability,  be  delivered  of  a  girl. 

CAUTION. 

A  woman  ought  not  to  suckle  a  child  when  she  is 
pregnant;  it  robs  the  foetus  and  injures  both  mother 
and  child.  The  milk  taken  by  a  healthy  infant  is 
equal  to  about  a  third  of  the  food  taken  by  the  moth- 
er. The  foetus  absorbs  a  portion  of  all  the  aliment 
the  mother  partakes  of;  and,  therefore,  pregnant 
women  should  be  careful  what  they  eat  and  drink. 


UNION  OF  THE  SEXES. 


265 


UNION  OF  THE  SEXES. 

The  institution  of  marriage  is  not  so  well  under- 
stood or  its  advantages  appreciated  by  unprofession- 
al men  and  women  as  it  ought  to  be.  Many  men 
desiring  variety  imagine  that  the  marriage  tie  is  a 
curb,  or  restraint,  which  cuts  short  their  pleasures, 
and  that  to  have  free  range  in  %  'flower}'-  plains  and 
pastures  new"  is  all  that  is  required  to  consummate 
their  earthly  happiness.  Independent  of  the  con- 
tinual risk  of  disease,  this  is  a  very  erroneous  view 
of  a  very  important  subject. 

While  a  few  people  are  willing  to  speak  openly 
against  this  noble  institution,  very  many  act,  in  se- 
cret, as  if  its  vows,  its  duties  and  obligations  were 
of  mere  nominal  importance,  and  as  if  a  breach  of 
them  were  rather  a  subject  for  a  joke  than  for  seri- 
ous  reproof. 

The  physician  knows  that  marriage  is  a  true  and 
natural  bond.  It  may,  indeed,  be  said  that  physi- 
cal or  sexual  intercourse  is  the  lowest  form  of  wed- 
ded love.  But  this  is  not  true.  The  physiological 
view  of  marriage  is  more  important  than  is  general- 
ly supposed;  and  the  physical  pleasures  themselves, 
which  rule  and  regulate  the  rest,  are  far  from  being 
the  lowest.  When  we  consider  that  the  institution 
of  marriage  exists  in  some  form  or  other  among  all 
races  of  mankind,  it  will  be  perceived  that  it  is  too 
deeply  rooted  to  be  overthrown  by  a  mere  form  of 
words,  or  the  style  of  casuistry  adopted  by  disput- 
ants who  either  understand  not  the  facts  or  find  it 
convenient  to  ignore  them. 


268  UNION  OF  TliE  SEX&S. 

It  is  true  that  marriage,  like  many  other  good 
things,  may  become  degraded  to  the  lowest  and  bas- 
est purposes — it  may  be  associated  with  all  that  is 
vile  and  worthless,  and  converted  into  a  curse  instead 
of  a  blessing.  On  the  other  hand,  it  may  cherish 
and  develop  the  holiest  dispositions  of  mankind, pro- 
mote love,  fidelity  and  truth, and  do  more  for  human 
happiness  than  the  most  romantic  enthusiast  has  ever 
conceived. 

No  bond  on  earth  can  be  more  pleasurable  than 
that  in  which  all  members  of  the  family  are  bound 
together  by  domestic  ties;  where  they  are  properly 
respected  and  faithfully  adhered  to,  no  pleasure  on 
earth  is  so  great  as  that  of  living  in  a  state  of  mat- 
rimony. 

Thus  wise  legislators  have  always  given  encour- 
agement to  marriage.  Caesar  gave  rewards  to  those 
who  had  many  children,  and  prohibited  women  un- 
der forty-five  years  of  age  from  wearing  jewels  who 
were  unmarried  and  had  no  children. 

Augustus  went  still  further,  and  inflicted  new 
punishments  on  those  who  remained  single,  while 
he  rewarded  those  who  were  married,  particularly  if 
they  had  children.  The  law  was  not  popular,  how- 
ever, and  at  the  end  of  thirty-four  years  it  was  re- 
pealed. Louis  XIV  encouraged  early  marriages, 
and  recompensed  the  fathers  of  families  who  had  le- 
gitimate children. 

The  most  agreeable  companion  that  a  man  can 
have  is  a  kind  and  loving  wife,  who  will  share  his 
pleasures  and  his  pains; who  is  always  rejoiced  to  hear 


female  syringe.  se? 

of  his  prosperity,  but  who  clings  to  him  all  the 
more  closely  in  adversity,  It  is,  however,  late  in 
life — in  the  season  of  the  sere  leaves  of  life's  autumn 
— that  this  rare  and  rich  blessing  is,  and  must  be 
more  highly  appreciated. 

It  has  been  proved  by  ample  statistics,  that  married 
men  live  longer  than  batchelors.  This  is  doubtless  the 
case,  if  the  parties  live  happily  together;  otherwise, 
bachelors  have  the  advantage.  In  a  happy  marriage 
everything  conduces  to  enjoyment,  to  well-being, 
health  and  longevity,  for  life  is  passed  without 
shocks  and  agitation.  But,  in  an  unhappy  marriage 
when  each  person  is  a  perpetual  cross  to  the  other, 
everything  is  anguish,  torment,  trouble  and  disquie- 
tude; to-day,  to-morrow  and  always;  at  each  mo- 
ment the  bitter  cup — full  to  overflowing — approach- 
es and  touches  the  lips.  Is  there  a  constitution  suf- 
ficiently strong,  or  health  sufficiently  robust,  a  soul 
sufficiently  firm,  to  flatter  itself  that  it  can  resist 
such  cruel  aitacks? 

As  these  unhappy  marriages  are  very  common, no 
one  should  ally  himself  to  one  whom  he  does  not 
sincerely  love.  It  is  not  enough  that  the  parties 
agree  in  their  sentiments  and  opinions.  Let  them 
never  make  the  deplorable  mistake  of  marrying  one 
who  has  wavered  during  courtship,  or  who  has 
evinced  the  least  disposition  to  favor  some  other 
person  of  the  opposite  sex. 

FEMALE  SYRINGE. 

There  are  various  styles  of  syringes  for  the  use  oi 
females,  some  are  made  of  glass,  others  of  Brittania, 


268  TO  MY  PATROLS. 

hard  rubber,  etc.  But  those  manufactured  from  rub- 
ber for  us  are  altogether  the  most  efficient  instru- 
ments. This  instrument  will  throw  a  volume  of  water 
or  other  fluid  with  great  force,  so  as  to  penetrate  ev- 
ery part  of  the  vaginal  cavity  and  it  may  be  used 
for  years  without  losing  its  elasticity,  while  others 
are  apt  to  become  useless  after  a  few  months  use.  No 
one  good  habit  conduces  more  to  the  health  of  the 
female  than  of  occasionally  syringing  the  vagina,  and 
keeping  the  organs  of  procreation  cleanly,  and  free 
from  corrosive  acrimonious  secretions.  Ladies  wishing 
to  possess  themselves  of  an  excellent  article  of  this 
kind  can  be  supplied  confidentially  on  application 
in  person  or  by  mail.  Price  $3 ;  forwarded  postage  paid 
to  any  part  of  the  United  States  on  receipt  of  price. 

CONCLUDING  REMARKS. 

Before  closing  my  volume,  I  would  address  a  few 
words  of  parting  advice  to  the  reader.  If  you  are  af- 
flicted, delay  not  an  instant  after  the  first  symptoms 
of  disease  appear  to  apply  to  a  skillful  physician. 
Let  no  false  delicacy,  no  fear  of  expense,  deter  you 
for  you  need  not  hesitate  to  expose  every  secret  to 
one  whose  lot  it  unfortunately  is,  daily  to  witness 
the  inroads  made  upon  health  by  sexual  indulgence. 
If  you  have  the  "means,  you  are  amply  renumerated 
by  the  best  medical  advice.  ' 

A  FEW  WORDS  TO  MY  PATRONS. 

My  Terms. — Some  people  say,  "Why  do  you 
have  pay  in  advance?  Why  not  cure  us  and  then  we 
will  pay  you?"  A  large  proportion  of  my  patients 
live  hundreds  of  miles  from  me,  and  are  entire  strair 


TO  MY  PATRONS. 


269 


gers;  and  my  only  protection  is  to  receive  the  pay 
before  I  send  the  medicine.  No  mercantile  house 
would  esteem  it  a  safe  business  to  send  goods  on 
credit  to  strangers,  and  I  must  make  my  business 
sate.  My  expenses  are  immense,  my  medicines  are 
procured  without  reference  to  cost.  I  use  the  best, 
let  the  cost  be  what  it  may.  I  invest  in  my  business 
a  large  fortune  every  year.  My  responsibility  has 
now  been  tested  for  many  years.-  Is  it  unreasonable 
to  invest  a  few  dollars  in  an  enterprise  which  inter- 
ests your  health  and  perhaps  your  life  ?  In  this  way 
I  treat  all  alike,  impartially.  I  devote  all  my  ener- 
gies and  study  to  do  the  utmost  good;  and  I  depend 
upon  my  patronage  for  my  success  in  curing  the 
sick,  fully  realizing  that  I  confer  a  blessing  untold 
upon  those  I  cure  and  that  such  cures  increase  my 
business  and  my  permanent  success.  Humanity 
prompts  me  to  do  the  very  best  that  is  possible. 
References,  where  desired,  will  be  furnished. 

NOTICE  TO  PATIENTS  AND  INVALID  READERS. 

Much  of  Dr.  Bate's  practice  is  carried  on  by  cor- 
respondence, and  he  has  been  successful  in  curing 
numerous  cases,  which  have  been  conducted  by  letter 
only.  Patients  at  a  distance  are  requested  to  be  as 
minute  as  possible  in  describing  the  symptoms  of 
their  cases,  age,  habits,  occupation,  etc.,  and  if  any 
treatment  has  been  previously  adopted.  Dr.  Bate 
has  made  arrangements  by  which  the  necessary  rem- 
edies can  be  forwarded  to  any  part  of  the  world,  safe- 
ly packed  and  free  from  observation,  and  it  is  his  in- 


270 


TO  MY  PATRONS. 


variable  custom  to  destroy  all  correspondence,  ot 
return  it  to  the  patient  at  the  termination  of  each 
case.  Patients  may  have  letters  or  packages  for- 
warded by  Initials,  the  most  perfect  confidence  may 
be  relied  on,  so  that  no  diffidence  or  timidity  may 
prevent  the  application  for  professional  relief. 
Address 

DOCTOR  BATE, 
323-325  Dearborn  St.,      ...     Chicago,  111. 


INDEX. 


ABORTION  163 

Advantages  of  Marriage  225 

Age  to  Marry  244 

Amenorrhcea  156 

Announcement      8 

Anteversion  of  the  Uterus  _.  148 

Attractive  Complexion     218 

BAD  HABITS  263 

Beauty,  Ideas  of  ,  '   250 

Bladder,  Irritation  of,  1S6:  Inflammation  of   J.&7 

Blanche  de  la  Peau..  219 

Bosom,  a  Voluptuous   217 

CARD,  Special  _  221 

Causes  of  Prolific  and  Unfruitful  Marriages   73 

Caution    ..  264 

Child  Bearing,  Period  of  252 

Chlorosis  172  and  253 

Choice  in  Marriage  54,  78,  234 

Clap  181 

Color  of  the  Skin  21 1 

Complexion,  Attractive  218 

Conception    262 

Concluding  Remarks  268 

Consumption  264 

Courting..  232 

Coquetry.  254 

Cvstitis..  187 

DIS'EASES,  Venereal— See  "Venereal  Diseases,, 

Diseases  of  Women   127 

"       "   Fallopian  Tubes  134 

"       '«  Uterus  134 

"  Malignant  and  Cancerous  _  145 

"  Diseases  of  Pregnancy  170 

Dvsmenorrhoea  157 

ENLARGEMENTS   142 

Excesses  66,  79  and  253 

FACTS  for  Everybody  223  and  248 

Falling  of  the  Womb,  147;  of  Vagina  162 

Familiar  Talk  222  and  268 

Female  Irregularities  130 

"      Svringe   267 

Fruitful  Months  ....249 

GREEN  SICKNESS  172  and  253 

HAIR,  The  .251 

Hvncen,  The  254 

IDEAS  OF  BEAUTY  5.50 

Importers  220 

Important  to  Married  and  Marriageable..  220  and  248 

Impotency  69,  93,  and  109 

Inflammation  of  the  Uterus,  135;  of  Ovaries,  152;  of  Vagina  1^4 

"  "   Prostrate  Gland,  1S6;  of  Bladder  187 

Inter-Marriage  232 

Introduction   5 

Irritation  of  Bladder  186 

LEUCORRHCEA  165 

Liver  Complaint  210 

Living  Bodice  254 

Long  Courtships  252 

Lost  Passions  Regained  221 

Love  Macaes  232 

MARRIAGE.— Phyriolotry  of.  9;  Effects  of,  46:  Advantages  of  225; 
Marriage  and  Poetry,  250;  Effects  on  Consumption,  254;  Long- 
ing for,  255;  Age  for  ,...  =  ..244 


Marriage  and  Marriageable,  Important  to  220  and  2r,4 

N.  u-turbation  -  .64,80  and  174 

Menetr  ation,  154;  Retention  of,  156  and  178;  Menorrhagia,  159; 

Suppression  of,  18U;  Amenorrhea  156 

Men  ury   .-    -  -  256 

Miscarriage  1*5,  ib8  and  250 

Mora!  Effect  of  Self-Abuse  109 

NERVOUS  DE  BILJTV,  Treatment  of  117 

Nocturnal  Emissions   93 

Notice  217  and 269 

OBSTRUCTIONS  249 

Onanism  64  and  80 

Organs  of  Generation,  Male,  17;  Female  22 

Ovaries,  Inflammation  of  _  152 

PATHOLOGY  OP  UTERUS  131 

Patients  at  a  Distance    215 

Period  of  Child  Bearing  258 

Physiology,  249;  of  Marriage,  9;  of  Organs  of  Generation,  Male, 

30;  Female   37 

Phymosis  __  214 

Physical  Effects  of  Self-Abuse  109 

Pictures  from  Real  Life  199 

Pregnancy,  Diseases  of  170 

Procreation  324 

Prolapsus  Uteri   147 

Prolific  Marriages  73 

Puhertv,  5451;  Diseases  of  51 

QUESTIONS  FOR  PATIENTS  124 

Renewing  Life  252 

Resemblances  251 

Retention  of  Menses  156  and  178 

Retroflexion  of  Womb,  151 ;  Retroversion  15<> 

SELF-ABUSE  IN  FEMALES  174 

Seminal  Weakness,  93;  Treatment  of  117 

Sensations  265 

Sexes,  Union  of   265 

Skin,  Syphilitic  Affect  ons  of,  196;  Color  of  """"251 

Special  Card   221 

Spermatorrhoea,  109;  Treatment  of  ~.~.~.~A\7 

Sterility   _   71 

Stricture  11V."~~."~~.~.~."~.~.  '.V.Y.'.'.L  "~l~~V.~.".~.'m  "~if$ 

Suppression  of  Menses  """" igo 

Swelled  Testicle    "  ig8 

Syphilis,  191;  Primary,  192;  Secondary,  194;  f ertiaryII*."."."*H""l98 

Syringe,  Female.   *"ofi7 

TEETHING  " 255 

Testicle,  Swelled   ..  ig8 

To  Patients  at  a  Distance   215 

Tubercles,  Syphilitic   "" 198 

Tumors,  Etc    14^ 

Twins    .   250 

UNFRUITFUL  MARRIAGES""* ."."_"" ".".".* 73 

Urethral  Discharges    120 

Uterus,  Pathology  of,  131 ;  D"iseas<-8  of,"  134;" Prolapsus" of' 147'  U1-* 
ceration  of,  ?"9;  Anteveraion  of,  148;  Retroversion  of,  150: 
Retroflexion  of.  im 

VIOLENCE   ;  

Variety  ___.""_  .\\"  \~ 1()7 

Vagina,  Prolapsus  of,  162;  Inflammation" of 164 
venereal  Diseases;  Gonorrhea,  181-184;  Gleet,  182;"  Sv'p hil'is  191 
\  oiuptnoua  Hopom  01  * 

WHITES   " ■ *" 

Withdrawal . . .". .____"/""_"'. Jo| 
Woman  and  Her  Diseases  jo- 
Womb,  The,  131 ;  Diseas  s  of,  31  "Faiiing'of"  147;"  AnYeversion  of  148 
Retrovereion  of,  150;  Retroflexion  ot..^„.Jm..'*m!..^.™^„[^S 


